ADVERTISEMENT

As regular people suffered from the health and economic impacts of the pandemic, the rich got even richer. According to the Institute for Policy Studies analysis of Forbes data, the combined wealth of all U.S. billionaires increased by $2.071 trillion (70.3%) between March 18, 2020, and October 15, 2021, from approximately $2.947 trillion to $5.019 trillion.

Of the more than 700 billionaires in the country, the top five (Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Elon Musk) saw a 123% growth in their combined wealth during this period, from $349 billion to $779 billion. We, ordinary folks, are sharing the world with these individuals but the laws that govern their everyday life sound nothing like ours.

To further explore this issue, Reddit user Seraphina_Renaldi made a post on the platform, asking everyone: "What is classy if you’re rich, but trashy if you're poor?" and sure enough, they got plenty of thought-provoking replies. Things like going to the casino or having someone else raise your children. Continue scrolling to check out the answers and upvote the ones you think make the most sense.

#1

The most expensive thing you own is a really old car.

MyUsernameIsNotLongE Report

Bored Panda got in touch with the author of the post, Seraphina_Renaldi, and they were kind enough to have a little chat with us about what inspired them to ask Redditors this question.

"I was scrolling through some profiles on Instagram and I just got the thought that some people are celebrated for things I was berated for in the past and then I remembered reading an article years ago about this topic with a few answers and was curious what Redditors might think about it," they told us.

Seraphina_Renaldi believes the post went so viral because everyone has experience with this, whether on one side or the other.

"I also think that it's a topic that can also be a little bit taboo because the financial situation is something very private and people don't talk about it and their struggles openly when not being anonymous," they added. "I've also had my own experience where the struggles of being poor can be downplayed by some people that especially grew up financially stable so it's also hard to talk about it when people won't listen."

#2

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Being on a first-name basis with a judge

UpInSmokeMC , EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#3

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective If you are weird and rich people call you eccentric, but if you are weird and poor people call you crazy.

-eDgAR- , Kamaji Ogino Report

#4

Drinking in the park. When they do it it’s a “banquet” but when I do it I’m “hammered” and need to “get off the swings and put my pants on”

Ivelostmyreputation Report

Globally, Latin America and the Middle East stand as the most unequal regions, with the top 10% of the income distribution capturing respectively 54% and 56% of the average national income.

Even though inequality declined in a handful of Latin American countries, it persisted, and even increased, in others. In the Middle East, Gulf countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia) have been marked as extremely unequal with little variation since the 1990s.

Europe, on the other hand, is the most equal of all regions, with the top 10% receiving 35% of income in 2019. This can be largely explained by public investments in education and health (i.e. by predistribution policies), financed by a fair amount of taxes (redistribution mechanisms).

#5

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective If you live in a tiny home it’s ‘eco friendly’ if you live in a trailer you’re trash

Kamisquid , Stefan Widua Report

Add photo comments
POST
sandrataylor avatar
Sandra Taylor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in a trailer an I am not trash just like cheaper rent🤭🤭in a low income bracket🤪🤪

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

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Someone else raising your kids

CompetitiveVanilla14 , cottonbro Report

Add photo comments
POST
cinzabeary avatar
LagoonaBlueColleen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think childcare is trashy at all, but I do find hiring a nanny so wealthy parents don't have to bother with the hardships of raising their own kids a bit questionable.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

As different as their lives are, Seraphina_Renaldi thinks that rich and poor people can still somewhat understand each. Especially if someone's self-made because they know the struggles that come with an empty wallet.

"I don't, however, think that people who grew up rich and poor speak the same language," the Redditor said. "They've had extremely different experiences and were socialized in [different environments]."

"But I think that if both sides are open-minded, it's possible to [relate to] one another."

#8

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Asking your friends for money. If you’re rich, it’s a “fundraiser.” If you’re poor, it’s a handout.

Courbet72 , Karolina Grabowska Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Getting things for free. Which makes me viciously angry.

Kaleidodope54 Report

#10

Van lifestyle: Some wealthy people will drop everything and remodel and literally live in a van or bus, traveling and usually blogging or vlogging along the way. On the flip side, many people did not choose to be homeless and are forced to live out of their cars.

hxppyhxt Report

Add photo comments
POST
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this one should be higher on the list. I'm sick of seeing spoiled little brats traveling around the country (or the continent) in a super expensive rig.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Not working

itspeterj , Rachel Claire Report

Add photo comments
POST
christopherdavidlehr avatar
Crease Almighty
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is more class status than wealth… upper class don’t know the meaning of the word work. Edit: definition of Upper class - British English: upper class NOUN /ˈʌpə klɑːs/ The upper class or the upper classes are the group of people in a society who own the most property and have the highest social status, and who may not need to work for money.

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

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective I guess slapping people

Dlastretort Report

Add photo comments
POST
raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chris Rock would, I presume, have charged a member of any other audience that did this to him. He should charge this idiot. Can you imagine Smith slapping, say, Ricky Gervais if he'd said the same? What does that say?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective I saw this on a video some time ago and I'll repeat the response that came with it:

Rich people have mistresses

Middle-class people have affairs

Poor people have side pieces.

DarthZoon_420 , 𝓞𝓬𝓽𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓸 𝓕𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓲 Report

Add photo comments
POST
felicorbongolan avatar
Wistiti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No matter where you are in the social standing, you can find cheaters.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Not paying taxes, if your poor your stealing for others but if your rich you have the business savvy

Combest94 , Kelly Sikkema Report

#17

Having a lawyer

EvilNinjaKoala Report

#18

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Having 5+ kids

g-tron13 , krakenimages Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#19

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Eating animals that are not usually seen as food.

CactusEating , Rene Asmussen Report

Add photo comments
POST
anniebieber avatar
madeleineflowers avatar
Madeleine Flowers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know what your comment reminded me of? Gourmand from Wild Kratts. He always tries to find animals and cook them up for everyone to eat, it's disgusting. Thankfully he's stopped.

Load More Replies...
hornedape avatar
Erik Chrane
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not just eating. This isn't a rich/poor thing but how stupid do you have to be to encourage killing a tiger or rhino to create some powder that you think will make your d**k hard? People that practice this nonsense should be hung in a public square. No pun intended...

bluesky_4 avatar
Blue Sky
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That country has the highest death penalty they execute 24/7 Around the clock. But yet they still seem overpopulated even though they control the birth rate

Load More Replies...
peterkn4 avatar
Pete from Cali. USA
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a very strange behavior that people do: Whenever talking about an unusal animal (rare, regional, newly discovered, etc.) some people will want to know what it tastes like or how the texture of the meat is.

dc1 avatar
DC
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... as if that was interesting ... but, there is a way to have an idea of how it tastes - you just gotta smell the poo of said animal. This isn't like they tasted EXACTLY alike, but there is a clearly tastable connection between the two.

Load More Replies...
stephaniel14 avatar
Tofu
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish we'd stop eating animals altogether. Save the animals! Save the planet! Save your health!

marygarland avatar
Mary Garland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like BUGS?? Our new protein source? Well, maybe yours, but never mine! 🤮

9360swilli avatar
Susan Williams
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Justifying killing an animal by saying you always eat what you hunt and kill. Go to the freaking market and buy your meat there. You just like to kill animals.

mamaleahrocks avatar
Leah Norris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work at a high end grocery store, and the majority of our customers are privileged. I had a personal chef ask me to acquire pheasant (no problem), alligator (requires 5 day wait for delivery), and guinea pig (😳). Until then, I had no idea people even ate guinea pig. It is actually a Brazilian delicacy.

anastasia_redmond1453 avatar
Anastasia Redmond
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

During WWII, people made pate out of them. Never eaten one myself, but it's not as if they are rare.

Load More Replies...
dodsonmichelle avatar
Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rich people will put the nastiest sh*t in their mouths! I don't care that it's $200 per ounce, salty fish eggs are disgusting.

luisgonzalez avatar
Luis Gonzalez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So rich people can eat caviar or escargot, but when I catch bugs to use for baking, it's gross. And yes, I cleaned it and stuff, it doesn't go from the grass straight to the batter.

lorieshewbridge avatar
Lorie Shewbridge
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spiders 🕷️ and live octopus 🐙 are 2 that come to mind. 🤢

rosemary_edwards avatar
Rosemary Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ummm yeah! I don't eat veal because of how they are raised. Are we so bored with our meat resources the we need to eat parrots or muskrat lol. For example

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Thrifting

Heymrpreacherman , Hugo Clément Report

Add photo comments
POST
suuspuusje avatar
Susie Elle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm still laughing at how second hand items used to be called "kringloop" in my country (hand-me-downs, second hand clothes, what have you) and somehow it turned into 'vintage'.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Wearing a bathrobe all day

tomw_n , Celine Lityo Report

Add photo comments
POST
christopherdavidlehr avatar
Crease Almighty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing wrong with this… bathrobes are very comfy… although my boss prefers me to wear a suit

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

Being completely s**t-faced. I work in fine dining and you wouldn't believe the number of rich, well-dressed, "classy" people who get drunk off their a*ses and make a complete fool of themselves and still act better than you while they are doing it.

CrucibleOpal Report

Add photo comments
POST
missidontgetit avatar
Littlemiss
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me ex workmates to a tee. They had loads of cash and slept around, so they were classy. If I got drunk and acted like them, I'd have been arrested.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

Casual clothing in a formal environment. Hoodie and cargo pants at a law firm: you're either going over your trust fund or taking on crippling debt to get out of a public intox charge.

luce202 Report

Add photo comments
POST
danielgisi avatar
Daniel Gisi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Formal clothing should not exist. It's there just to make some people feel superior, at the cost of comfort.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Police escorts.

I_Love_Small_Breasts , Pixabay Report

Add photo comments
POST
hawkmoon avatar
Hawkmoon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Generally, when you're poor, the escort is in the same car, not around yours.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#26

Rich: Vintage collector

Poor: Hoarder

whatsinURfckingbox Report

Add photo comments
POST
thehiveguardian avatar
TheHive Guardian
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something tells me there's a difference between a room full of rat infested newspapers and a garage full of vintage cars

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Lots of sex, when you're rich it's a sexual addiction when you're poor, you are just a wh*re.

shiggydiggy77 Report

#30

Anything to do with making/growing your own food and clothes/home decor.

MonaMonaMo Report

#31

Rich people say living frugal, we call it broke.

80sRiverBedScene Report

#32

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Moving around a lot.

jellyjoenut031 , Ketut Subiyanto Report

Add photo comments
POST
cinzabeary avatar
LagoonaBlueColleen
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I moved around so much in my childhood for various reasons and never because we got evicted, nor am I an army brat and we're not "gypsies" (as people had always assumed).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Clothes with no labels. Not working, not knowing how much money is in your bank account

FineUnderachievement Report

#34

Repurposing things such as jars, containers, boxes, old clothes, etc.

jxgabriela Report

Add photo comments
POST
fredneobob90 avatar
Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you're poor you do it because you have to and if you're rich it's because you want to.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

Crime

WhoHayes Report

Add photo comments
POST
sun322b avatar
Dunja Blackwell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you steal 100 $ you are a criminal if you steal 1 mio you are a business man

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#36

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Casinos

twogvio , Kaysha Report

#37

Father has multiple children from multiple mothers.

CactusEating Report

#38

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Speaking multiple languages, tax avoidance, day drinking, owning exotic animals, and having multiple cars on your property.

notarobotindisguise6 , Alex Suprun Report

Add photo comments
POST
macjam47 avatar
Ally MacMann
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Speaking multiple languages is trashy if you're poor? I've never heard that before.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Buying expensive things. Someone who has money to afford pricy things looks normal doing so, someone who can barely put food on the table yet has an expensive car, clothes, or other luxury items makes em look like a douche

JDeRosa609 Report

Add photo comments
POST
siobhan_nora1ere avatar
Nora Petricien
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I, a student, get s**t on because I won't eat out with my friends because I said I don't have money after buying a computer...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Someone Asks "What's Classy If You're Rich But Trashy If You're Poor" And These 40 Replies Really Put Things Into Perspective Owning multiple animals.

CactusEating , Matt Nelson Report

Note: this post originally had 88 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.