Firstly, what is upper-class? Many people think that upper-class just means people who are very rich - well, they are, but a different kind of rich than people who tend to buy luxury cars and clothes. According to Investopedia, a person who holds the highest position and rank in society is referred to as upper-class. In the social order, these individuals are regarded as the wealthiest and are situated above the working and middle classes.
So while rich people are easy to spot from their flaunting of their wealth, upper-class people usually tend to be less noticeable. But there are quite a few things that make you realize that you are probably on a slightly different level.
One Reddit user started a discussion online asking folks to share what in their opinion screams ‘I’m upper-class’. People online listed quite a few different things, varying from the way they speak, dress or act. But what would you say shows that a person is upper-class? Share your thoughts below!
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I’m British, and it’s interesting reading this thread and seeing what I can only presume are Americans who clearly think being Upper Class and being rich are synonyms and describing behaviours attached to the latter status as being markers of the former.
Upper Class over here means something very different – imagine going for a walk in the countryside and running into some old dude dressed like a tramp and driving a beaten up landrover and having a pleasant conversation with him and then going to the pub in the next village only to have the locals tell you he was the Duke of Barsetshire and his family have been maintaining that land for the last 600 years – that is Upper Class. Those who are genuinely Upper Class may be rich, but they usually don’t show it and definitely don’t go in for conspicuous consumption.
Not caring how expensive your belongings are, ppl who flaunt wealth aren't upper class
Very true. The very wealthy buy the very best and use their stuff until it wears out.
Clothes without obvious branding, but the patterns/designs match at the seams.
I work in entomology and often have to go to professional conferences and awards ceremonies where people are vying to connect with potential donors. There’s one older lady I always see, and while everyone else is dressed in suits and ties, or formal dresses, she’s dressed like a monarch butterfly. Butterfly earrings, butterfly wings on her back, orange as the setting sun.
If you can dress like a goddamn butterfly in a room full of professionals, you have enough money to not give a s**t about anyone else.
NEVER talking about money.
Talking about money in public is seen as cheap and distasteful.
The way someone walks into a room. At least here in the UK, there’s a kind of old money upper class you can just spot as soon as you meet someone. Their level of self-confidence is wholly uninfluenced by their surroundings, it’s just something built-in. No matter the situation, no matter if they make a fool of themselves, they are completely oblivious and unaffected by it.
It's confidence knowing their place in life and society. Knowing they also probably have the money to make problems go away if needed.
My partner and I picked up one of our kids from a play date and the other kids mom commented on my beard because her husband also grows one ‘at the same time’. Confused I asked her if her husband’s beard was seasonal and she explained that he grows one in advance of piloting the yacht to ‘the islands’ but she makes him shave it off after she and the kids have taken the plane to meet him.
I grow mine to keep bits of egg in.
Being frugal, not cheap, but knowing how, when and where to spend your money
Some people may downvote or disagree with the above comment. Again, upper class isn't directly tied to copious amounts of money, but a state of mind and a way of being, a higher standard and living in it.
Talking about going to your lake house, but not in a boastful way... in an I assume everyone has a lake house kind of way.
I worked for a landscaping company that did regular work for a client. Billionaire. He'd call and ask could we go to the lake house and do this or that for a celebration they were doing. The lake house was a freaking mansion. Employed a full time caretaker who lived in a cottage on the property. The "cottage" was a freaking 3 bedroom, two full bath, enclosed 2 car garage house. The owner and his family went to the lake house maybe 3 times a year. They owned several other vacation homes in and out of the country. Must be nice. I will say though, that I had met him numerous times and we was just a regular guy and very down to earth.
No cash but asset rich with a crumbling family home built in the 14th century, that hasn’t been maintained.
Beaten up Range Rover with private number plate.
Family history has so many ‘skeletons in the closet’
Lol it's me but I'm american so my crumbling estate is from 1960 and my 20 year old jeep was the only thing I could afford that could handle gravel roads. Just not quite as romantic though is it.
i teach rich kid preschool. i looked up prices for some of the brand name coats they wore over the last winter and they average around $1000usd. they are 4~5 years old. they're not gonna fit in those next winter. they don't realize they're rich, they're mostly pretty wonderful kids.
"Back when I was the ambassador to
It was at this point I realised I should keep my uncultured mouth shut, refuse alcohol and not delight the people around me with tales of Northern Ireland, especially the ones about incest. Also that maybe wearing a cheap dress from Shein wasn't one of my better ideas.
I don't think you should be intimidated by anyone, and I bet the beauty of your humility shines through in any situation.
When they visit your tiny house, and say "it's cozy". My upper class friend said this first time she came over and I teased her about it to no end, we had a good laugh.
I once had a friend who owned one of the Island off the shore of Istanbul. Never once flaunted his wealth.
On the other hand this new rich kid always showed his new watch or something like that.
“No, I CAN park there. It’s just $30.”
Said when parking in a “No Parking” zone.
Lean and fit when in middle age. Poor people almost always look bad by middle age. This is the biggest giveaway. Also adding not knowing much about their local city as they have no need to venture out of their neighborhoods. And travelling to expensive destinations and staying in branded 5 star hotels each time.
Going to a prestigious school despite having mediocre grades.
I’ve recently crossed the threshold.
It’s being able to pay for convenience. Skip a line? Yes. One or two steps above general admission/sitting? Yes. Grocery delivery? Of course.
Grocery delivery is the greatest, and not super $$ tbh. We tell ourselves we save money by not making impulse buys.
Being totally unaware of the cost of common items. I remember an interview with Bill Gates years ago and he hadn’t purchased groceries in so long he had zero clue what things cost. I remember they asked him the cost of a box of instant rice and he guessed $20 I think.
Flying private
I dunno. I think that this is a very new money thing - think reality tv “stars” - true, old money “upper class” would be just fine with first on a commercial flight.
That Porsche SUV that all the blonde moms drive
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A lot of these show a confusion between 'rich' and 'upper class'. They're not the same thing. We might talk about the difference being ;old money' vs. 'new money', but that doesn't always hit the mark either, as it's quite possible to be upper class without actually being very money rich at all.
Yeah, I have met people who are upper class, and I have met people who are bonkers wealthy. In a Venn diagram there's overlap, but it's not just a circle. But there's a difference between someone who is wealthy (even intergenerational wealth) and someone who comes from an upper class background.
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Education and intelligence in the U.K. determines your class more than anything. Apart from being an obvious Lord or Earl, if you are well educated, high intelligence, went to a good university and then got yourself a great job, you can start looking at class levels. Just having lots of money in the U.K. means nothing. Any old chav can win the lottery or be rich as an influencer but do they have class? Nope, that's got to be earned here from a young age, usually by applying yourself in education and working hard.
I'm going to add "friends in high places". Not boasting about friends in high places but actually having them. A friend in the House of Lords, Parliament, several branches of the Intelligence services, high up in the military, a noted surgeon, a Hollywood actor or two, news Mogul. People who owe them a favour.
Load More Replies... A lot of these show a confusion between 'rich' and 'upper class'. They're not the same thing. We might talk about the difference being ;old money' vs. 'new money', but that doesn't always hit the mark either, as it's quite possible to be upper class without actually being very money rich at all.
Yeah, I have met people who are upper class, and I have met people who are bonkers wealthy. In a Venn diagram there's overlap, but it's not just a circle. But there's a difference between someone who is wealthy (even intergenerational wealth) and someone who comes from an upper class background.
Load More Replies... Education and intelligence in the U.K. determines your class more than anything. Apart from being an obvious Lord or Earl, if you are well educated, high intelligence, went to a good university and then got yourself a great job, you can start looking at class levels. Just having lots of money in the U.K. means nothing. Any old chav can win the lottery or be rich as an influencer but do they have class? Nope, that's got to be earned here from a young age, usually by applying yourself in education and working hard.
I'm going to add "friends in high places". Not boasting about friends in high places but actually having them. A friend in the House of Lords, Parliament, several branches of the Intelligence services, high up in the military, a noted surgeon, a Hollywood actor or two, news Mogul. People who owe them a favour.
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