Feature Interview: Can being super rich affect your brain?

About this episode

The episode explores how extreme wealth can reshape an individual's psychology and social interactions.

The rich and famous have gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala, for a dinner where a ticket costs around $100,000 U.S. That kind of price tag is unimaginable for most people, but for the ultra-wealthy, it barely registers. Money doesn't just change what you can buy. It changes how you move through the world, what you expect, what you notice, and what you feel entitled to want. For two months, New York Magazine writer Lane Brown spoke with extremely wealthy people. Some were old money heirs. Some people came into their fortunes in tech and as entrepreneurs. What he found is that having millions or billions doesn't just expand your lifestyle. It can reshape your psychology. But even the super-rich can't completely escape the awkwardness of the restaurant check. His article is called "What Does Extreme Wealth Do to the Brain?"

People in this episode

Guest: Lane Brown

Topics covered

• wealth
• psychology
• social dynamics
• entitlement
• lifestyle

Keywords

• extreme wealth
• psychology
• Met Gala
• Lane Brown
• New York Magazine

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Magazine

Places: Metropolitan Museum of Art

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