Inside the lives of the ultra-rich: friends reveal shocking secrets and strange habits
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When we think of the ultra-rich, we picture lavish estates, effortless luxury, and lives removed from the chaos of ordinary existence.
But the people who work closest to them tell a very different story—one of dysfunction, denial, and at times, complete emotional detachment.
A viral online thread asked a simple question: “People who have worked for the ultra-wealthy, what are some of their darkest secrets?”
What followed was a flood of confessions revealing that behind the marble gates, reality is often messier than money can fix.
One IT technician recalled working for a Texas oil baron who owned a ranch the size of a small country—and a mansion perched high over Tucson.
“His biggest secret was that he knew most people only liked him for his wealth,” the technician said, including his wife, children, and stepchildren.
“They’d cut ties in a heartbeat if it disappeared.” In the end, money may insulate, but it doesn't protect against loneliness.
You’d think owning a $10 million wine collection means pouring only the finest for guests—but one sommelier says otherwise.
He described a billionaire who proudly served $20 pinot and cava at his Christmas party while rare Grand Cru bottles sat untouched in his cellar.
“He died with a $10 million cellar,” the expert shared, noting the man hoarded his prized vintages without ever enjoying them. For all their spending power, some of the rich refuse to part with their pleasures.
Others hoard in a more literal sense—behind closed doors, their opulence hides outright squalor. “A surprising number of them are hoarders,” one insider wrote, describing “mansion-level filth” behind pristine exteriors.
Another employee noted that some wealthy clients lived in homes too filthy for any cleaner to accept the job. Money can buy the illusion of control, but it doesn’t guarantee basic hygiene.
Temper tantrums are also surprisingly common among the ultra-rich. “I was screamed at, had things thrown at me,” one commenter said, explaining how billionaires often act out when things don’t go their way.
“They do it because they know they will get something out of it.” These outbursts are rarely about actual failure—more often, they’re about power, dominance, and demanding perfection at all costs.
Then there are the relationships—often transactional, sometimes surreal. One story involved a man who never divorced his first wife but paraded his longtime mistress as his new bride.
The real wife didn’t mind, so long as the money stayed intact, but she blocked inheritance to the mistress’s children. The solution? The man bought the mistress $100 million in income properties to keep everyone quiet.
In other households, money replaced apologies. A stepchild described their billionaire stepfather’s belief that “money can solve everything,” even family conflict.
Instead of addressing arguments, he handed out luxury gifts—hoping expensive distractions could mend emotional wounds. “It does not,” the stepchild concluded, a truth the man never accepted.
Charity, too, isn't always what it seems. One user claimed many ultra-wealthy donors “Routing all sorts of favors, money laundering, and bribes [through] various 501(c)3s and family foundations.”
Far from selfless, the goal is often image control: “making sure they are photographed at their ‘charitable’ events so everyone sees their ‘philanthropy,.’” For some, public goodwill is just another asset to manage.
But perhaps the most universal theme is disconnection. “They are painfully detached from regular struggles,” one commenter said, describing how many of the ultra-rich believe their success is purely merit-based, even when born into immense privilege.
Their detachment fuels a lack of empathy—and often, a joyless existence. “Even when born into extreme wealth, and when it is earned, they will not accept [that] luck played a factor”
After decades working with elite families, one longtime insider offered a bleak summary: “Joyless, entitled, arrogant and cheap,” often with substance abuse layered on top.
The public sees magazine covers and polished parties—but behind the scenes, many live in emotional chaos, chasing happiness they can’t seem to buy. For every glamorous story, there's one that's quietly unraveling.
Read next:
Have you ever worked for or interacted closely with the super-rich? Did you spot similar patterns—or something totally unexpected? Drop your stories in the comments and let us know what you saw behind the curtain.
But the people who work closest to them tell a very different story—one of dysfunction, denial, and at times, complete emotional detachment.
A viral online thread asked a simple question: “People who have worked for the ultra-wealthy, what are some of their darkest secrets?”
What followed was a flood of confessions revealing that behind the marble gates, reality is often messier than money can fix.
One IT technician recalled working for a Texas oil baron who owned a ranch the size of a small country—and a mansion perched high over Tucson.
“His biggest secret was that he knew most people only liked him for his wealth,” the technician said, including his wife, children, and stepchildren.
“They’d cut ties in a heartbeat if it disappeared.” In the end, money may insulate, but it doesn't protect against loneliness.
You’d think owning a $10 million wine collection means pouring only the finest for guests—but one sommelier says otherwise.
Inside the lives of the ultra-rich: friends reveal shocking secrets and strange habits. Image source: clitical-rolls / Reddit
He described a billionaire who proudly served $20 pinot and cava at his Christmas party while rare Grand Cru bottles sat untouched in his cellar.
“He died with a $10 million cellar,” the expert shared, noting the man hoarded his prized vintages without ever enjoying them. For all their spending power, some of the rich refuse to part with their pleasures.
Others hoard in a more literal sense—behind closed doors, their opulence hides outright squalor. “A surprising number of them are hoarders,” one insider wrote, describing “mansion-level filth” behind pristine exteriors.
Another employee noted that some wealthy clients lived in homes too filthy for any cleaner to accept the job. Money can buy the illusion of control, but it doesn’t guarantee basic hygiene.
Temper tantrums are also surprisingly common among the ultra-rich. “I was screamed at, had things thrown at me,” one commenter said, explaining how billionaires often act out when things don’t go their way.
“They do it because they know they will get something out of it.” These outbursts are rarely about actual failure—more often, they’re about power, dominance, and demanding perfection at all costs.
Then there are the relationships—often transactional, sometimes surreal. One story involved a man who never divorced his first wife but paraded his longtime mistress as his new bride.
The real wife didn’t mind, so long as the money stayed intact, but she blocked inheritance to the mistress’s children. The solution? The man bought the mistress $100 million in income properties to keep everyone quiet.
In other households, money replaced apologies. A stepchild described their billionaire stepfather’s belief that “money can solve everything,” even family conflict.
Instead of addressing arguments, he handed out luxury gifts—hoping expensive distractions could mend emotional wounds. “It does not,” the stepchild concluded, a truth the man never accepted.
Charity, too, isn't always what it seems. One user claimed many ultra-wealthy donors “Routing all sorts of favors, money laundering, and bribes [through] various 501(c)3s and family foundations.”
Far from selfless, the goal is often image control: “making sure they are photographed at their ‘charitable’ events so everyone sees their ‘philanthropy,.’” For some, public goodwill is just another asset to manage.
But perhaps the most universal theme is disconnection. “They are painfully detached from regular struggles,” one commenter said, describing how many of the ultra-rich believe their success is purely merit-based, even when born into immense privilege.
Their detachment fuels a lack of empathy—and often, a joyless existence. “Even when born into extreme wealth, and when it is earned, they will not accept [that] luck played a factor”
After decades working with elite families, one longtime insider offered a bleak summary: “Joyless, entitled, arrogant and cheap,” often with substance abuse layered on top.
The public sees magazine covers and polished parties—but behind the scenes, many live in emotional chaos, chasing happiness they can’t seem to buy. For every glamorous story, there's one that's quietly unraveling.
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