In an era when it feels like everyone is boasting about their lucrative side gigs and flaunting their cryptocurrency gains, how can one identify if someone is genuinely wealthy?
There is a saying, “money shouts, wealth whispers,” and several subtle indicators can reveal a person’s financial status. A thread on Reddit posed the question: “What’s a subtle sign someone is rich but hiding it?” and attracted numerous responses with personal insights.
Whether individuals intentionally conceal their riches or simply choose to lead an understated lifestyle, many agreed on one primary clue. Contrary to expectations of being draped in designer labels or showcasing extravagant cars and vacations, the signs of true wealth are much more understated.
One significant tip for identifying the truly affluent lies in their fashion choices.
Instead of ostentatious designs, many agreed that high-quality, brandless clothing is a telltale sign. This includes well-fitted shirts, suits, and dresses that avoid the overt display of brand logos.
“Wearing nameless clothes, no flashy brands or vending machine style jewellery,” one commenter observed. “You’ll never hear them talking about money; if you do, they’ll never remark about how much they have or earn, and if they are a stranger, they will probably lie about their job to keep you from suspecting them of having money,” they continued.
Another individual concurred, noting: “It’s so funny, the nameless clothes make such a huge difference. I switched all my old clothes that I had gotten from Ross that were all basically just branded shirts with logos that I had bought because they were cheap with just plain colored shirts with nothing on them (that albeit were still cheap when I bought them on sale, like $7 each) and it transformed my entire look.”
They elaborated: “Oh and I guess more monotone combinations of pants/shorts with the shirts, especially in lighter colors.”
Another comment highlighted the mix of high-end and bargain items: “If you know fashion, then you’ll also notice an odd blend of super high end stuff and cheap stuff. Like the pants are from Costco but the shirt is tailor made and thousands of dollars. Or shoes are simple but they have a $20,000 watch.”
“That’s the secret all these luxury brands don’t want you to know,” said another Reddit user. “Rich people don’t go around disguised as billboards. All those t-shirts with a giant luxury brand ad on the chest are glorified, expensive, poor people’s clothes.”
There is also a particular expression to pay attention to: when someone denies being rich but describes themselves as ‘comfortable,’ it often indicates significant wealth.
The New York Post mentions additional indicators to consider.
Dani Payne shared her insights on TikTok, drawing from her background in history, politics, and education.
She spoke about societal norms that reveal status, based on ‘a French sociologist who came up with this concept of cultural capital, which was essentially how upper and elite classes hoard certain resources, certain experiences, and certain knowledge that signal to everyone else that they are a part of that privileged class.’
“What do upper- and middle-class kids know that we don’t teach working-class kids?” she inquired.
Another commenter noted that children from wealthy families often receive early financial education.