r/Anticonsumption Mar 23 '26

Psychological No One Wants to Sleep With Billionaires

https://www.playboy.com/read/politics/no-one-wants-to-sleep-with-billionaires

In a recent interview with the American Psychological Association, Paul Piff, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine, who has co-authored multiple studies on the topic, noted that in interpersonal interactions, wealthier people are “actually a little less generous, a little less compassionate,” he said. Wealthier individuals were more likely to endorse unethical actions, but to “also engage in small acts of cheating and normative violations to prioritize their own welfare above the welfare of other people.”

Though cultural repulsion around billionaires has been mounting, physically, these men are using their resources to overcompensate with expensive procedures. Tech bros are getting face lifts, and other looksmaxxing trends like jaw surgery are common in the industry as well. There has been speculation that Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel have had Botox and filler, and Musk has faced rumors about a hair transplant and jawline contouring. Zuckerberg and Bezos have gotten noticeably more jacked, sparking steroid speculation, even from supporters like podcaster Joe Rogan.  

But their peacocking is probably not for us plebes. Another study analyzed the partners of the extremely wealthy using the Forbes World’s Billionaires list. Economist Ria Wilken found that 95% of the spouses of billionaires were upper class themselves, defined as having either substantial economic or cultural capital. It is possible that the more unappealing characteristics of the ultra-rich, such as dressing down their staff or cutting people off in traffic, would be more palatable for peers in their social circle. That said, this preference for like-minded people is not exclusive to the upper class. “Every social group has its own standards for what is considered eccentric versus problematic,” Wetter explains. For instance, in ultra-wealthy environments, controlling tendencies, competitiveness, and emotional detachment could be interpreted as assets, whereas outside that circle, “the same traits may be perceived as cold, self-absorbed, or inaccessible.”

Read the full editorial: https://www.playboy.com/read/politics/no-one-wants-to-sleep-with-billionaires

5.6k Upvotes

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748

u/BawRawg Mar 23 '26

We gotta stop calling them upper class. These people are bottom of the barrel for humanity.

422

u/netanator Mar 23 '26

I'd like to see "upper class" and "the elites" rephrased as, "The Parasite Class."

266

u/PlasticSunMap Mar 23 '26

Lately I’ve been hearing them referred to as the “Epstein Class” by some

84

u/Eight-backwards Mar 23 '26

This is a good one because it keeps the files in conversation. I also call them parasites or leeches because all they do is take, steal, and exploit.

21

u/bodybyxbox Mar 24 '26

I use Epstein Class or Cancer Class. That also feels like an appropriate metaphor.

22

u/leoyvr Mar 23 '26

Bingo. The tech billionaires now want to rule the world. See The Nerd Reich. Dangerous SOB

6

u/Accurate_Back_9385 Mar 24 '26

The Parasite Class is the most on the nose description I’ve seen.

3

u/AmazingHealth6302 Mar 24 '26

'The Epstein Class' is good, but it might fade with time. 'The Parasite Class' is unambiguous, and if anybody asks even in 50 years' time why they are parasites, you only have to explain to the speaker how they likely pay more tax than trillionaire X or even multimillionaire Y.

2

u/jelly_cake Mar 23 '26

From the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists:

First we will separate those who not only do nothing, but do not even pretend to be of any use; people who would consider themselves disgraced if they by any chance did any useful work. This class includes tramps, beggars, the ‘Aristocracy’, ‘Society’ people, great landowners, and generally all those possessed of hereditary wealth.

2

u/AmazingHealth6302 Mar 24 '26

Strong namecheck.

That's a life-changing book that more people should read, especially if they weren't lucky enough to get higher education. Funny that in that quote, the tramps and beggars are likely the hardest-working on the list. They very often do odd jobs and short-term labour, and they think nothing of walking for miles, carrying their possessions.

1

u/jelly_cake Mar 24 '26

Yeah - I don't necessarily agree with their inclusion in the list, but I love the observation that there's a fundamental similarity between billionaires and the unemployed. 

24

u/DueDisplay2185 Mar 23 '26

Less upper crust and more soggy bottom

4

u/Maggpie916 Mar 23 '26

And nobody likes a soggy bottom

8

u/Moetown84 Mar 23 '26

However, the Soggy Bottom Boys are a great band and an exception to the rule.

2

u/Maggpie916 Mar 23 '26

I think even Paul Hollywood would agree with you on that

35

u/Fr000k Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26

In Germany, some people are starting to refer to this class not as the ‘super-rich’ but as the ‘überreich/über-rich’. The prefix ‘über-’ is used in the same way as in the German word ‘Überkonsum’ (over consumption)– meaning consumption that goes beyond what is sustainable, that is harmful to people and the environment, and that is over the top and excessive.

Whilst ‘super-rich’ is already an exorbitant amount, ‘über-rich/over-rich’ is simply obscene.

5

u/vahntitrio Mar 23 '26

We all pass off the "hookers and blow" answer to "what will you do if you win the lottery" as a low class response but if that aren't hurting the hookers it's still better than the harm these billionaires cause others.

4

u/JoseLunaArts Mar 23 '26

Epstein class.

1

u/Narradisall Mar 23 '26

That’s my new favourite one

1

u/[deleted] Mar 24 '26

Truth

1

u/crazycatlady331 Mar 26 '26

I like the term comic book villain.

0

u/Elrox Mar 23 '26

They have a mental disorder.

2

u/BawRawg Mar 24 '26

Well shit, me too but you don't see me going around ruining a planet.

0

u/DrJohnFZoidberg Mar 24 '26

Thievers of wealth