Rich people’s problems: Super-wealthy suffer just like us, therapists say — but New Yorkers have little sympathy

Katherine Donlevy, Steven Vago
·4 min read

Well, that’s rich.

While it’s true that the uber-wealthy don’t share the same mundane problems as their lower-class counterparts, it turns out their “rich people problems” include the same spectrum of negative emotions as the rest of us — not that New Yorkers have any sympathy for them.

The upper class commonly struggles with a cache of problems set off by their extreme wealth, including loneliness, paranoia and a distorted sense of purpose, which can provoke them to instigate issues in their lives and even infect their impressional children.

Rich people deal with loneliness, paranoia and a distorted sense of purpose, therapists say. Poprock3d – stock.adobe.com
Rich people deal with loneliness, paranoia and a distorted sense of purpose, therapists say. Poprock3d – stock.adobe.com

“People who aren’t rich themselves imagine that rich people don’t have problems because they think to themselves, ‘If I had all that money, I wouldn’t have a care in the world,'” Carole Lieberman, MD, a Beverly Hills psychiatrist, told The Post.

“Money doesn’t buy happiness per se, but if you have a lot of money at your disposal, you can throw it at some problems and make them go away. However, you can’t buy off all your problems, no matter how much money you have.”

Insecurity and loneliness

CNBC first explored the idea that life in the top 1% isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, with therapists telling the outlet that rich people’s relationships become “defined for what they can provide to others.”

Affluent people become isolated from the rest of the world, instead becoming relegated to the tiny upper-crust community that understands what comes with being a wealth-hoarder — but competition inside the tiny group erupts easily.

“Rich people’s kids get the worst of it, because rich parents are usually off doing other things,” psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman said. Getty Images
“Rich people’s kids get the worst of it, because rich parents are usually off doing other things,” psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman said. Getty Images

“While middle-class people are embroiled in keeping up with the Joneses, rich people are embroiled in keeping up with the Kardashians,” Lieberman told The Post.

According to the Beverly Hills psychiatrist — who knows all “about rich people” — those on the insecure side constantly collect status symbols, like Rolex watches and Rolls Royce cars, in an attempt to solidify their place in the upper crust.

Such competition, however, only further drives division between the tiny group, leaving relationships with an air of superficiality that is even more isolating.

The loneliness that comes with extreme wealth often leads to “purposeless,” Lieberman said. Monkey Business – stock.adobe.com
The loneliness that comes with extreme wealth often leads to “purposeless,” Lieberman said. Monkey Business – stock.adobe.com

Impulse for ‘mischief’

“Of course, it’s better to be rich than poor, so that you have more choices in life, but sometimes rich people are the loneliest and — without the need to work — some can feel empty and purposeless, which can lead them into mischief of all kinds,” Lieberman said.

Mischief can range from anything from gossip to extramarital affairs — or even something as nefarious as white-collar crime, the psychiatrist said.

The shine of the have’s extravagant life dulls quickly, and those who don’t have to work to maintain their affluence often find themselves twiddling their thumbs.

“They seek out excitement in other ways,” she said.

Effect on children

While it’s hard to feel sympathetic to the money-makers and hoarders, the children of the 1% might be more deserving of some compassion.

“Rich people’s kids get the worst of it, because rich parents are usually off doing other things. Dads are often workaholics and moms are often shopaholics,” said Lieberman.

“So, kids are brought up by nannies and lack the continuous adoration of their parents, which is why many of them feel empty and become drug or alcohol abusers to fill up the emptiness inside.”

Little Richie Riches have the world at their disposal and access to nearly anything and everything — except their parent’s “love and attention,” she continued.

This “emptiness” isn’t the same as the one impacting their parents, Liberman clarified.

Adults get into trouble in an attempt to keep themselves busy and excited, while their children act out to fill the gaping holes in their lives.

A sense of emptiness leads rich people to “mischief,” like affairs or white-collar crime, Lieberman said. standret – stock.adobe.com
A sense of emptiness leads rich people to “mischief,” like affairs or white-collar crime, Lieberman said. standret – stock.adobe.com

Fortunately, the life-altering issue can be remedied if the rich parents seek out healthy hobbies and make attempts to be with their own offspring, she added.

New York reacts

Famous for their candidness, New Yorkers told The Post they cared little for the woes of the wealthy.

Rodney, a retired wallpaper hanger who lives amongst the affluent on the Upper East Side, pointedly said: “This is bulls–t.”

“I don’t feel sorry for rich people. C’mon!” he told The Post.

“Rich people have their own set of problems but they’re rich so what the f—k is the problem?”

Rodney also had little sympathy for rich kids, saying that Lieberman’s assessment of their tendency to act out “sounds like excuses.”

“It just sounds like excuses for not being responsible, disciplined and stable. Most people are unstable because they’re irresponsible. They’re undisciplined so naturally they’re going to be unstable and instability leads to drugs and alcohol and all kinds of distractions,” he said.

An Upper East Side doorman — presumably used to the wealthy’s sorrowful attitudes — simply rolled his eyes when asked his thoughts.