[tomcam]

> The problem the GP is trying to address is how much the rich have, not how much they spend.

I agree. Perhaps we differ on this: How rich someone else is has no bearing on me. In fact, I love it when people get rich.

I'm sure you'll agree that you are wealthy beyond measure to hundreds of millions, maybe billions, of people in the world. They could well be stunned and angry at the way you spend money.

> The rich spend less of what they have - that's how they stay rich.

Not sure I agree. Many people appear to be rich but are actually in over their heads. Look at many, many pro athletes five years out of their careers.