From Admiration to Animosity: Why We Despise the Super Rich
Unmasking the super-rich’s obsession with self-preservation and the public’s growing ire
In the summer of 2018, I read Douglas Rushkoff’s seminal article, Survival of the Richest. The article alarmed most readers as Rushkoff had been invited to attend a secretive Silicon Valley retreat, where “five super-wealthy guys… from the upper echelon of the hedge fund world” sought advice to secure their futures in the event of an apocalyptic scenario. Rushkoff uncovers the disturbing priorities of the super-rich, who prioritize security measures and escape plans over solving the systemic issues resulting from their wealth. Throughout the article, you get the impression that the ultra wealthy have an obsession with self-preservation, as opposed to human flourishing. At one point, a hedge fund manager wonders aloud how they can ensure their security teams don’t stage a coup and take over their empires during a disaster scenario.
To be (somewhat) objective, the ultra-wealthy are asking one of the right questions: How do I maintain power? But if history and pop culture are any form of prophecy, their demise would appear inevitable. In a world where money no longer carries value, power is the ultimate currency. In fact, within the US military special operations communities…
