ADVERTISEMENT

In a world where the wealth gap is widening in the global population, people are becoming increasingly divided by income. According to Statista, in the third quarter of 2023, 66.6% of the total wealth in the United States was owned by the top 10% of earners. The lowest 50% of earners only held 2.6% of the total wealth. 

And it all comes down to little things. What if refusing to clean your own house speaks volumes, but very differently depending on the dime you make? People on r/AskReddit taught us a valuable lesson on income inequality. When someone asked, “What’s classy if you’re rich but trashy if you’re poor?” it was destined to resonate with many people out there.

The lifestyle of the rich and famous seems to be so easygoing. Many people think that when you are rich like this, you can have an old car and be cool—humble but rich. Controversially, being poor with an old car won't make you look fancy. 

So, the answers started flooding in, like “an old car being the most expensive thing you own” and “having a lawyer’s business card in your pocket.” We picked some of the most illuminating ones to reflect on down below.

#1

Old Car

Red car on the road The most expensive thing you own is a really old car.

chowderneck Report

#2

Asking For Money

Person holding U.S dollar banknote When you're poor it's begging, when you're rich, it's a fundraiser.

Woyaboy , Vitaly Taranov Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fundraisers always have at least 70% on organisation costs that flow back to rich people.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Being Weird

Man holding a lot of cash If you are weird and rich people just call you eccentric, but if you are weird and poor people call you crazy.

-eDgAR- Report

#4

Having Other People Raise Your Kids

Child playing near the lake xErth_x replied:
"Sad but true."

[deleted] , qimono Report

#5

Police Escorts

Vehicle Blue Emergency Light Turned on ntgoten replied:
"or just escorts."

deenali , Pixabay Report

#6

Having Fake Teeth

Woman smiling I see so many celebrities with those fake ass implants that are going to destroy their jaw bones in a decade, but have a legitimate dental problem that results in missing teeth and you can't even get a job anymore, oh and dental insurance doesn't usually cover it either because it's considered cosmetic. Like getting to chew your food is somehow a style choice.

Jurgrady Report

Add photo comments
POST
minimaus avatar
MiniMaus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. I'm in that position. I also have implants and as a result I don't own nice things and don't do vacations. It was a trade-off. Chew or celebrate.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

Getting Money From The Government

Person counting cash money Mmarnik16 replied:
"This needs gilded, but I'm poor."

audguy , Karolina Grabowska Report

#8

Eating Fast Food

Women eating fries Rich guy buys fast food: "He's just like us!"

Poor guy buys fast food: "He should really make better choices."

DGBD , Pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Dressing Provocatively

Woman wearing black dress When you're rich it's a fashion statement, when you're poor you're a working girl.

dqrst3 Report

#10

Being On A First Name Basis With A Judge

Brown Wooden Gavel on Brown Wooden Table Deleted user replied:
"Hey Judith, how's it going?"
"You're an idiot."

tamupatriot , EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Hi Roger, sorry dude, I have to convict you, but don't worry; Donnie is already in the backroom signing your pardon. You'll be out and about before noon. See you tomorrow at Mar a Lago. "

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Classy Or Trashy? The Question That Sparked A Social Media Debate

Chances are, you have seen this “Classy If You’re Rich, Trashy If You’re Poor” question surfing around the internet before. It turns out that the question, which basically points out the troubling reality of income inequality, has been going viral on and off for the past five years, giving us a lot to think about.

On September 25, 2015, “What’s considered trashy if you’re poor, but classy if you’re rich?” was first posted to r/AskReddit by user u/GreenAndPride. Know Your Meme reports that the post gained over 13K points before it was archived.

ADVERTISEMENT

2016, on June 5, the same question was posted to Reddit and Twitter again. It gained 10K points, 24K retweets, and 14K likes on both platforms. 

According to Know Your Meme, some top answers included “having someone else raise your kids,” “day drinking,” “moving to a foreign country,” and “multiple cars in front of your house.”

In July 2020, the question went viral again after Twitter user Ana Samways posted it on the platform. The top replies included “speaking two languages” and “marrying a second cousin.” The topic is still being discussed on Yahoo! News in 2023.

#11

Having A Wedding In Your Yard

a long table with plates and glasses outside A911owner replied:
"I used to drive charter buses and one time I had to provide transportation for the wedding of the daughter of a billionaire. When we arrived at the wedding venue, I thought we were at a country club. It was their house..."

MW_Pravity , Lyudmila Arslanbekova Report

Add photo comments
POST
174agma avatar
Be Potato
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My country is like this too. If you don't rent an expensive hall to hold your wedding and invite a thousand guest, people will talk about how poor you are and stuff. It's a very toxic thing because everyone is fighting to be the best and sounding rich and stuff even though they're not!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Leisure Spending

Person holding a game controller Biggest thing is leisure spending, imo. Somehow a billionaire wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars on shit she doesn’t need and will use once is considered cool, but a poor person saving up and buying a nice purse or bottle of booze is seen as wasteful.

Steampunk_Batman Report

Add photo comments
POST
ebony1k124touch avatar
ebony1k124 touch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A poor person deserves a treat. Chances are the rich person may find a way to write it of whereas the poor person worked hard for it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#13

Substance Abuse

A man laying in the grass with a bottle of alcohol Rich people are ‘troubled’ whereas poor people are just junkies.

Cocobean4 , thom masat Report

#14

Stealing From The Middle Class

Man with white hoodie holding his hands on car window stashpremiumtea replied:
"THIS."

BenButteryMalesGhazi , Bastian Pudill Report

#15

Having A Barren House

Brown couch with cushions If you're rich, it's called minimalism. If you're poor, it's not being able to afford furniture.

SirAlthalos Report

Add photo comments
POST
ebony1k124touch avatar
ebony1k124 touch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people.who aren't wealthy are just very frugal and don't feel the need for more than the basic necessities.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Being Really Into Wine

Bottle of wine melodyze replied:
"Are you telling me I can't pull off calling myself a sommelier when I'm downing my franzia in a solo cup?"

zalfenior , Markus Spiske Report

Add photo comments
POST
lilgand avatar
Phoebe Bean
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the rich never get drunk.... they simply enjoy too much their drinks....

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Privilege To Collect

Assorted books in shallow focus photography Rich people collect. Poor people hoard.

captain_cavewoman , Eli Francis Report

Add photo comments
POST
davenyc88 avatar
Dave P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, both hoard and both collect, it depends if it one or two types of items only and if those items are organized as a collection. This is a situational, not a money issue

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Living At A Hotel

Hotel led signage jackneefus replied:
"Now that is a good one. I have known people in both categories."

Itskevin91 Report

#19

Walking Around In A Bathrobe

Person's hands Inside bathrobe pockets ScruffleMcDufflebag replied:
"The Dude is pretty fancy though.

Edit: I spent my evening watching The Big Lebowski because of the popularity of my reply. It was a good night."

OTBT , Samantha Passuello Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#20

Having A Lawyer's Business Card

Man in Black Suit Holding a Calling Card Deleted user replied:
"God this is so accurate. When someone I know to be poor mentions having a lawyer, I immediately wonder just how deep of shit they're in."

splonkFloope , Andrea Piacquadio Report

What Is Considered Rich Today?

Being “rich” today often relates to having significantly more wealth or financial resources than the average person, but the specific threshold varies based on location, lifestyle, and personal perspectives. Hence, there is no definitive answer to what is considered a rich life, as different people may perceive the definition of “rich” and perspectives of wealth differently. 

However, according to statistics from 2019, rich people are those who earn an annual income of $500,000 or more. For 2021, you’re in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.

#21

Wearing Vintage

Brown pair of shoes Wearing “vintage” clothing instead of hand-me-downs.

citizenfaith01 Report

Add photo comments
POST
annatrog avatar
Anna Witt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Vintage" clothes are just really old hand-me-downs. People justify charging more, by calling them "vintage".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Wearing Sportswear At Work

Colorful hoodie with sunglasses on it Wearing hoodies/sweats/gym wear to work.. Especially in Tech.

sexapotamus , MabelAmber Report

#23

Avoiding Taxes

Person holding purchase receipt jesuschin said:
"Trying to avoid paying taxes."

luckyhunterdude replied:
"Knowing how to use the tax breaks is always classy."

jesuschin , jarmoluk Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#24

Having Many Pets

Having Many Pets BourbonFiber replied:
"The only difference between 'cat hoarder' and 'animal rescuer' is budget."

francisbaconcantdraw Report

#25

Having A Big-Screen TV

Big screen TV on the table I’ve had to do home visits with people often and they ALWAYS get so mad that these poor families would have one.

GrandioseOtiose , StockSnap Report

Add photo comments
POST
katie-trondsen avatar
KT
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL large TV's are cheap nowadays and don't poor people deserve something nice? I would consider it a wise investment if all they did was watch movies as their treats.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Cheese As A Meal

Sliced cheese on wooden table ImAchickenHawk replied:
"A handful of shredded bright orange cheddar at 2 AM isnt classy?"

Corbelling , NastyaSensei Report

#27

Making Your Own Booze

Person pouring whiskey in the cocktail Drunkpennywise replied:
"If there is an apocalypse, the person who can make liquor will be kept alive."

Goodlittlewitch Report

#28

Having Multiple Kids With Multiple Partners

Family Walking on Path Suesuzysue replied:
"Came here to say this one."

culturedhoe , Vidal Balielo Jr. Report

#29

Not Cleaning Your Own House

Person cleaning mirror with sponge adudeguyman replied:
"I can afford to have someone clean my house but I can't have anyone do it because of my clutter."

Johnnadawearsglasses , Karolina Grabowska Report

Add photo comments
POST
lilgand avatar
Phoebe Bean
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have someone else to do that, I think. I mean, they are rich after all.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Going To The Horse Races

Woman riding a horse If you’ve ever been to the track on a Tuesday afternoon you know it ain’t a pretty sight. But that’s not the picture NBC paints at the Kentucky Derby.

Stizz83 Report

Note: this post originally had 39 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

When You Are Rich Like This, Do You Feel Great?

The answer may vary based on one’s definition of wealth and well-being. While some associate richness with financial independence, others may enjoy an irresponsible, rich gang lifestyle. What do rich people do when they become wealthy? They ought to feel happy, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Millions don’t necessarily guarantee feeling great.

When you are rich like this, side effects such as stress, loneliness, or a sense of purposelessness may affect your well-being. Though, your rich life can be built on strong relationships, good health, or overall happiness. Similarly, some people may find fulfillment through achievements, goals, or passions.

Most of you have probably heard famous Rich Dad Poor Dad quotes at least once. As Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, writes: “Most people fail to realize that in life, it’s not how much money you make. It’s how much money you keep.”

To summarize, one of the ways to feel rich is to appreciate what you already have rather than compare yourself to others or chase after more.