Legionella pneumonia

Legionnaires’ Disease, an Illness of Affluence

Legionnaires’ is the first communicable disease of modern wealth, thriving in the interstitial spaces of our built environment.
Succession

The Allure of the Millionaire Family Drama

The reason we put aside our personal dislike of rich TV families, people we might deeply resent if they were real, is two-fold.
A man sitting in an office with a computer.

The Link between Startups and Privilege

Self-made? The most successful independent ventures are often backed by legacy money or networks.
Aristocratic family

Noblesse Oblige in American Politics

What responsibility does the very wealthy have to the rest of the population? United States governor Winthrop Rockefeller provides a historical case study.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort celebrating his company in the 2013 film, Wolf of Wall Street

Are the Rich More Selfish Than the Rest of Us?

When it comes to selfish behavior, a new study suggests rich and poor are divided more by circumstance than character.
Cornelius Vanderbilt II House

Why We Obsess Over Other People’s Mansions

Gilded Age mansions were remarkably public places. Newspapers breathlessly followed their construction and the social lives that happened within them
Paul Gauguin, Nafea Faa Ipoipo? (When Will You Marry? ) 1892, oil on canvas, 101 x 77 cm

The Real Reason Fine Art Costs So Much

To outsiders, art auctions can seem like a parody of bizarre spending by wealthy people. The origins of ultra-expensive art lies in the nineteenth-century.
Mark Zuckerberg

Philanthropic Billionaires: An Investigation

Mark Zuckerberg joins a long line of philanthropic billionaires who have pledged millions of dollars to charitable causes.
Campaign Donors

The Five Percent: Looking at Where the Largest Campaign Donors Come From

The majority of campaign donors live in just five percent of the country's zip codes. Here is where they ideologically stand on issues.
Older photo of Donald Trump waving to the public

Donald Trump and the American Celebration of the Wealthy

A look into how wealth can transfer into fame.