The newly-minted aristocrats knew they were officially part of the upper crust when the wedding DJ screamed: “Put your pinkies in the air like you just don’t care!” That wouldn’t be the only sign that your blood has turned blue, though.
We all aspire to have money. Best case, we’ll have more money than we can spend in seven lifetimes. But, even if we don’t get that rich, it would be nice to be able to call ourselves upper class. If that day comes, though, how will you recognize it?
If you see three or more of these 14 signs emerge in your life, congratulations. You’re no longer middle class. Ditch your old friends and say hello to the robber baron life.
Not Talking About Money
Unless you were raised in a barn, you know that talking about money is a social taboo. Yet, unless you were raised in a barn, you know that money often comes up among those in the middle class.
Whether they’re talking about raises, inflation, home prices, or interest rates, money comes up. Many have noticed, though, that money is less of a topic among those who truly occupy the upper class. Perhaps it’s because money is of less concern, or because they know financial braggadocio could breed resentment. They don’t talk about it, they just have it and spend it.
A Second Home
For the middle and lower classes, one home is more than enough to put a glass ceiling on the bank account. Even for those who got a favorable interest rate on their mortgage, the average payment on a 30-year mortgage is a whopping $2,715. For most, doubling that payment with a second home would be financially suicidal.
When we’re talking second homes, we’re talking vacations—ski slopes, lakes, palm trees, and the like. With that in mind, the median sales price of homes in Aspen, Colorado was about $2.5 million at last check. Now that is upper class.
Shopping at Designer Food Stores
Some in the middle class regularly shop at stores like Erewhon, Whole Foods, and Tiny Grocer. But can they truly afford to? I guess they’ll find out when they start whittling away at that retirement budget.
Most in the middle class frequent chains like Publix, H.E.B., and even Winn-Dixie. If you shop at a boutique grocer and leave with a full basket, it may indicate you’re in the upper class. Enjoy those organic, pasture-raised raisins. Richie Rich.
The Country Club Membership
A quick search reveals that a golf membership generally costs between $5,000 and $60,000 per year, but the most exclusive clubs demand a six-figure membership tax. You might shell out five grand if you’re in the middle class, and maybe even $10,000 would seem reasonable for an avid golfer.
Those who are allotting $15,000, $20,000, or more to be a member at a leisure and social club? That’s just not an expense the average middle-class family (or even middle-class single male) can justify.
Multiple Flights on a Private Jet
You might fly on a PJ one time for work, or with a wealthy friend, and return to your middle-class life. If you’ve found yourself on a Gulfstream, Cessna, Learjet, or other private aircraft multiple times, though (and certainly if you’ve funded the trips yourself), you’ve almost certainly surpassed middle-classdom.
Ironically, one of the quickest ways to fall back down to the middle class is to develop an insatiable taste for private jet-setting, so use the Lear in moderation.
Private Everything
Chef, school, trainer, pickleball instructor. If the word “private” applies to more than your backyard or your parts, there’s a good chance you’re well-to-do. And why not access the benefits of privacy? One might argue that it’s the greatest benefit of having means.
Let’s face it, “private” is typically a synonym for “better.” And, when you have the money to do so, why not pay for the best?
You Have a Driver
No, not an Uber driver. You have a man named Harold who drives a black town car. You either have him on retainer (in which case you’ve really struck it rich), or you pay them hourly or per-ride when you want to get a buzz out on the town or you just don’t want to drive yourself.
The middle class takes an Uber. The upper class shells out the extra $50-plus to ensure a clean vehicle operated by a driver with no ulterior motives, hygienic shortcomings, or proclivities for erratic driving.
You Take Frequent International Vacations
When you’re strapped for cash, a cruise or another budget-preserving trip is the extent of “vacation.” As you ascend the middle class, you can afford to take trips that don’t include thousands of other vacationers locked on a floating asylum.
When you enter the upper class, you find yourself exiting domestic boundaries—not by water, mind you—with increasing frequency. When your money is right, breathtaking destinations like Switzerland, Bermuda, and Bora Bora might become annual (or even bi-annual) vacation spots.
You or Your Parents Pay for College Out of Pocket
70% of students with a Bachelor’s degree graduate with debt. Some portion of that remaining 30% had full scholarships or worked to cover whatever education costs they had. The rest? They probably had parents in the upper class, who neither had to take on debt nor take a second job to pay tuition.
With the exception of community college, most who are able to pay out of pocket for a four-year degree are well to do. More than anything, this might be an indictment of the outrageous cost of college.
You Take Time Off Without Worry
An estimated 31% of American employees get no paid time off. Of those that do have paid time off, 52% report working during their “off time.” This fact goes to show you that, even when middle- and lower-class workers are being paid to take time off work, their financial worry is so great that they still can’t help but work.
This is to say, if you take time off without second thought—particularly if you’re not being paid while off—you’re doing well financially. Or, you’re just unusually unbothered by your financial obligations.
You Aren’t Especially Aware of Inflation
Have you ever had the experience of looking at your Instacart total, taking a deep breath, and deciding which five items to remove? Or, similarly, taking items out of your actual shopping cart (or breezing by an item you wish you could afford) because the total is getting too high?
Americans have increasingly endured these debasing experiences over the past handful of years, as inflation has become increasingly untenable. If you haven’t had this experience, you’re probably in (or at least near) the upper class.
Your Watch Cost More Than $3,000
It’s the luxury items that are a dead giveaway for upper class people. The private jet is so ostentatious that you can’t miss it. The same is true of a Ferrari or ‘67 Corvette. Look closer, though, and there are more subtle tells that someone is doing better than you financially.
Look at the wrist. Someone who makes $100,000 per year and takes their appearance seriously might spend a few hundred bucks on a watch. Once you start shelling out multiple thousands for a timepiece without going into debt, though, you’re in another financial echelon.
You Use the Seasons (Summer) as Verbs
Do you use the phrases “summering” and “wintering” to describe seasonal vacations? As in, “We’re summering in the Hamptons; tell Claus to have the jet ready on the 15th?”
Or, perhaps, “We’re wintering in Turks & Caicos; we’ve simply done everything there is to do in the Virgin Islands?” You’re probably well to do, or you just have the vocabulary of a blueblood.
You Don’t Have to Work
It takes work to remain in the middle class. Literally, the middle class individual has to continue working in order not to slip into the financial instability that we call “lower class.”
If someone is working by choice, then they are undoubtedly upper class. Similarly, if you can afford to take several months off to explore new professional ventures or “find yourself,” there’s a strong chance you are in the upper class. Congratulations, you (may have) earned it.
