Yes, the super-rich really are just a bunch of narcissists

FROM Donald Trump to Mick Jagger, the super-rich are often accused of being narcissists.

But a study has found that wealthy people really do think they are something special.

Researchers who questioned 130 millionaires in Germany found they were more extroverted and less agreeable than the general population.

They were more focused on themselves and ‘getting ahead’ than their relationship with others and ‘getting along’. Millionaires were more likely to agree that they were a ‘very special person’ who deserved ‘to be seen as a great personality’. They also agreed more with statements set up to judge ‘narcissistic rivalry’, such as ‘I want my rivals to fail’ and ‘most people are somehow losers’.

But this was found to be mostly explained by the super-rich tending to be older men, who may be more competitive.

Experts compared their answers in personality tests with those of 23,000 ordinary people. But as well as being more narcissistic, the millionaires were more emotionally stable and conscientious.

Dr Marius Leckelt, who led the study from the Universities of Munster and Mainz, said: ‘Our findings of personality differences between the millionaires and the general population fit the stereotypes about “the rich” quite well, although the stereotypes are exaggerated...’

But although rich people were less agreeable and more competitive, that was not the case when age, education and gender were taken into account, the study, published in the British Journal of Psychology, found.

Dr Leckelt said: ‘Wealthy individuals have disproportionate influence on public life and we know little about this group of people. So our research helps our understanding of who the people who substantially shape society are.’

The study also found that millionaires were more educated, open and felt they were more in control of their lives.