Do rich people find it irritating if you talk about money too much?

Question

Me and my friend Dave are not rich. We were in a rich persons bar today. Dave got talking to a nice lady who he fancied. With her was her ex-boyfriend and I was talking to him.

I always like to talk to rich people about money, to try to understand the mindset that they have that allows them to earn money. So I was talking to the guy about this, and to be fair he was happy to chat about it. Actually we talked about how he has lost quite alot of money in property recently.

They were drinking from a £300 bottle of wine, and I was raving about how cool it was to be able to afford that!

Anyway the guy got up and said to the lady that they were going, and they left.

Now my mate Dave is upset that he didn't get a chance to get the details of the lady, and is blaming me for causing the guy to leave, saying that "rich people don't like to talk about money" and that I had offended them into leaving.

But I think what happened was that the rich guy was a bit jealous of how the lady (her ex) got on with Dave, and chose to end the "party"

What do you think?

UK question.

Answer 1

Without outright asking how much money they made, I wouldnt think much of it. I think if you are in sales, you are happy to talk about your money. But, as a salaried profession, its a personal thing. Nonetheless, theres nothing wrong with understanding what professions make what amount of money. A more general approach would be, "so, what does <this profession> bring in terms of entry level these days". It might cause them to give you the detail you want.  

Answer 2

Bringing up money and talking about it is just not very acceptable.  Talking about someones business and how they did it is another issue and quite acceptable.  Pointing out how much money they are spending on wine or whatever is not acceptable.  If your friend thought he had a chance with the guy's lady, he was probably dreaming unless he was able to pay for a $300 bottle of wine so his point is lost.  The guy was probably just tired of talking to someone who was clueless about his lifestyle.  That is a bit boring.

Answer 3

I hate to join in and say almost the same thing as others. More from a personal experience: Across the middle and upper classes it seems money is a status that is taken as a gift or in some cases, a right.

If watch and listen to McFly's Obviously and notice the last scene when the woman gives a tip to the adoring lad as she gets in her posh car...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu6qaNMJL...

"Obvously she's out of my league... I will be good enough for her."

Sadly some with money hardly recognize the fact we are on the same planet.

My approach if going to a place like you were at, I say noting because I want them to presume other things about me than my wealth that they think I must have. After all would the management actually let a person like me in...  (uni students--especially graduate students are it seems usually always not having quite as much money as they would like, no matter how well funded from parents or other sources).

Thus, I simply try to blend in. Admittedly I think the richer bloke over reacted, but maybe I just don't have enough money to be a prat about it.

I am sorry it happened, but chances like in the video, well there was little hope anyway.

Answer 4

Judging by your question, it would seem that you have an unhealthy preoccupation with money; you even listed the cost of the wine, I won't. The topic of money is a vulgar one, and only pursued by the vulgar. The rationale for this is that for wealthy: money is there and doesn't restrict their ability to buy what they will. It can be quite uncomfortable for them and me as well, when a boorish person insists on bringing money into the conversation: 'I was raving about how cool it was to be able to afford that'.

Answer 5

it annoys me when my friends bring it up, i want people too see me for who i am not how much money i have.  

Answer 6

I would say yes; it's good to know people are interested in *you* and not in how much money you have and/or how you earnt it.

Answer 7

It is incredibly rude to talk about money, particularly someone's salary.

It's just not the done thing.

Answer 8

But I think what happened was that the rich guy was a bit jealous of how the lady (her ex) got on with Dave, and chose to end the "party"

That's your answer. Even though he's an ex-bf, you never know what's going on between the two. Don't worry it's about your friend Dave not you. You weren't the one eyeballing that female (I assume).

Lots of rich people like to brag about their wealth and I never met a rich businessman who got BORED of the topic of wealth.

Answer 9

I've got a lot of money apparently. Paul looks after it though because he said I'd spend it on women. I don't know how I'd spend it on women. I don't know any women. Apart from my mother. But Paul knows best. I don't know what I'd do without him.

Answer 10

Rich guy....Poor guy....it doesn't matter.   You should'nt still talk about money.   It sounds as though you are trying to find out what they got so that you may decide to date him or something.    It is not appropriate to talk about money to anyone except your best friend or family.    It makes you look like a gold digger.      Most rich people do not even bring the subject up.   Because if you are rich, you just talk about the normal things in life.  (not money)   They can tell that money is the only thing on  your mind and they will get up and leave.

Answer 11

I find it  easier to talk to rich people than to hear  poor people complain  about why it isn't fair that they aren't rich as they think they should be

Answer 12

Usually, those who have money do not like to talk about it.  Those who have plenty are usually more interesting than that.

Those who are thriving to have more, constantly talk about money and what they have and what they can and cannot do.  

This opinion is from personal experience of meeting with many rich folk in my career.

:)