If you’ve ever met someone whose lifestyle just doesn’t quite add up, you might be dealing with a high-class illusionist — someone pretending to be wealthy.
Amidst all the social pressure to keep up with your neighbors and achieve that dream lifestyle, many ordinary Americans are simply faking it until they make it.
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However, that’s a recipe for financial disaster according to financial experts Rachel Cruze and George Kamel.
"If you live fake rich, you’ll become real broke," Kamel quipped on a recent episode of The Ramsey Show.
Cruze pointed to the other end of the spectrum where the richest families are adopting a “stealth wealth” lifestyle to cover their true fortune.
“People that are actually really wealthy, you won’t really know it,” she said.
With that in mind, they offer a list of the top six signs that someone is pretending to be upper-class and living a lifestyle they probably can’t afford.
Sign 1: Flashy designer brands
Many consumers are buying fashion they can’t afford. Roughly 51% of Americans surveyed by LendingTree last year said they overspent to impress others, with 29% of them saying they wanted to feel successful.
The most common way to achieve this feeling, for 19% of respondents, was to spend on clothes, shoes and accessories. However, this perception of luxury brands and expensive clothing is an illusion.
If you’re looking to save money and build genuine wealth, maybe it’s time to ditch the flashy logos and invest in your future, especially when a potential recession could be looming.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Sign 2: Expensive wine on a beer budget
Being a wine snob is something most people would consider a sign of affluence, but research suggests expensive wine isn’t necessarily better than the budget bottles.
A study published in the Journal of Wine Economics found that members of the Princeton Wine Group, which has blind tested over 1,700 different wines since the 1980s, found little correlation between a wine’s taste, quality and price.
So the next time you’re at a restaurant, focus on your own preferences rather than the judgment of others.
Sign 3: Talking about money too much
During Cruze and Kamel’s conversation, Kamel took a dig at “crypto bros” who never miss an opportunity to tell you about how many billions the currency is worth “for the moment.”
“All these people talking loudly about money is usually a red flag to me,” Kamel said.
A 2023 study by Empower found that 62% of Americans actually struggle to discuss money with their friends and family, which also isn’t great.
But, excessively bragging about your finances could be a sign of insecurity that you may need to deal with.
Sign 4: Flaunting wealth on social media
Influencer and hustle culture has been around long enough that a growing number of social media users are suspicious of the glamorous lifestyles they see on their feed.
In 2021, HBO’s documentary “Fake Famous” pulled back the curtain on the industry’s underhanded tricks by turning three “nobodies” into relatively successful online influencers.
So, the next time you see someone posting pictures of a luxury resort or designer purse on Instagram, swap your sense of financial anxiety for a healthy dose of skepticism.
Sign 5: Leasing luxury cars
Leasing cars has become more common in recent years as consumers struggle with rising interest rates and look for more affordable options.
According to Experian, roughly 25% of new vehicles were leased in 2024, up from 21% in 2023 and 19% in 2022.
That means one in every four cars you see on the road are probably rented. Your friends or neighbors with fancy SUVs are likely stretching their budgets to keep those wheels.
"If you’re a dude and you’ve ever posed in front of any vehicle, it’s a hard no for me,” Kamel joked. “Your dad didn’t hug you enough.”
Sign 6: Over-accessorizing
One last sign that you may be faking your riches is if you’re going above and beyond with your appearance.
“Over accessorizing, flashy nails, expensive watches, loud hair/makeup,” are all indicators of an unsustainable need to appear wealthier, according to Cruze.
Genuinely rich people don’t necessarily feel the need to remind everyone about it. Ditching the bling may be the first step to rescuing your bank account.
If any of the above signs sound like someone you know, remember you’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg. What really counts is living within your means and feeling confident that if you were to stumble into a period of financial misfortune, you’d have enough saved to bridge the gap.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
