14 Rich Kids Explain What They Thought Was Normal Until They Learned Otherwise

Growing up with wealth can create a bubble where what’s normal for you is far from reality for most people. It’s not uncommon for rich kids to have certain privileges that seem ordinary—until they step outside their world and realize not everyone lives that way. Here, 14 rich kids share the things they thought were normal, only to later discover they weren’t.

1. “Everyone Has A Maid, Right?”

“I grew up with a live-in maid who did everything for us, from cleaning to cooking and even dressing me as a kid. I thought every house had ‘staff.’ It wasn’t until I went to a friend’s house and saw them doing their own laundry that I realized how unusual it was.” —Anna, 24

2. “Flying Private Is A Treat?”

“Private jets were just how we traveled. My parents would book them like most people book Ubers. When I started going to college and flew commercial for the first time, I was shocked at how cramped everything was. It was a huge wake-up call.” —Tyler, 21

3. “You Don’t Ski Every Winter?”

“Every winter, my family would jet off to Aspen for a ski trip. I assumed that skiing was just a normal winter activity for everyone, like visiting relatives or having a family dinner. I was surprised when I learned many people never even leave their state for vacation.” —Bella, 22

4. “Why Does School Have To Be Free?”

“I went to a private school with tuition that costs more than most people’s yearly income. For a long time, I didn’t understand why people were so concerned about paying for college. I figured everyone had a trust fund or some savings account set up for education.” —Luke, 23

5. “Everyone Doesn’t Have A Second Home?”

“My family has multiple properties, and I thought it was normal to have a vacation house. A summer beach house, a winter cabin, and a ‘weekend retreat’—I never understood why people made such a big deal about vacation planning. Most people I knew had somewhere else to go.” —Sophia, 25

6. “You Don’t Have A Personal Trainer?”

“Growing up, my parents hired personal trainers for our whole family. It wasn’t just for fitness—it was yoga, pilates, tennis, the works. I thought gyms were just for people who didn’t want to pay for a trainer.” —Chase, 20

7. “Wait, You Shop For Sales?”

“I didn’t know what a sale was until I went shopping with a friend at the mall and she got super excited about finding clothes on sale. I had no idea that people waited for discounts to buy things. My parents never looked at prices, so I thought that was normal.” —Mia, 23

8. “Dinner With The Family Is Fancy?”

“Growing up, we’d eat dinner in a formal dining room every night with waitstaff serving us. When I went to my friend’s house for dinner, it was such a shock to see their family eating pizza on the couch. I thought dinner always had to be fancy.” —Jordan, 22

9. “You Don’t Have A Credit Card As A Teenager?”

“I got my first credit card at 15, fully paid for by my parents, and I used it for anything I wanted—clothes, travel, whatever. I thought everyone got a credit card at that age. It wasn’t until college that I realized most of my friends never had one until they got a job.” —Ella, 21

10. “Why Don’t You Just Get A Driver?”

“I never learned how to drive because my family always had drivers. When I found out that most people either drove themselves or took public transport, I couldn’t believe it. To me, having a driver was like having a car—it just came with life.” —Liam, 24

11. “Traveling First Class Isn’t Normal?”

“We always flew first class, so I thought everyone did. I had no idea there was a whole economy section of the plane until I flew with a friend’s family and sat in coach. It was a shock to see how different the experience was.” —Emma, 21

12. “I Thought Shopping Was A Hobby”

“My mom and I would go on weekly shopping sprees as a way to bond. I thought shopping was a normal weekend activity for most people, not something you do as a luxury. It wasn’t until college that I realized how differently most people view shopping.” —Isabella, 23

13. “Everyone Has A ‘Designer’ Closet?”

“Growing up, I thought every girl had a closet filled with designer clothes, shoes, and bags. My friends and I would compare Gucci or Louis Vuitton like it was no big deal. It was only when I started meeting people from different backgrounds that I realized how rare that was.” —Olivia, 24

14. “Why Don’t You Just Call Your Family’s Lawyer?”

“When I got into a minor car accident, my first reaction was to call our family lawyer to handle the paperwork. My friends were stunned because they’d never heard of anyone having a personal lawyer for ‘small stuff.’ I thought everyone had one on speed dial.” —Noah, 22

The Bottom Line?
Wealth creates a reality that can feel completely normal when you’re living in it—but stepping out of that bubble can be an eye-opener. For these 14 rich kids, life was a series of privileges they thought everyone enjoyed until they discovered otherwise. Everyone’s idea of “normal” is different, but understanding those differences can open up new perspectives on privilege, money, and the world beyond the bubble.