[rige]

I'm reading a biography of the philosopher Seneca. His life is an interesting example of your final point. He was truly one of the ultra-rich in Roman society -- as one of Nero's top advisors, he amassed a fortune, which was arguably not obtained through honest or entirely virtuous means (being primarily from a famously cruel emperor). But some of his famous letters argued that wealth isn't everything, money is "preferred" but not necessary to be a good person, etc. While I think there are some great points to remember in those writings, viewed in context against the author being one of the richest people in the Roman empire at the time it's hard not to see a parallel to your point that the mantra can be "plutocrat propaganda."