“Still Depressed”: 30 People Share What It’s Like To Have Dated Or Married Millionaires

People say money complicates things. Relationships are no exception. Couples can and do run into financial problems all the time. And it can take tremendous determination and effort to solve them. But what happens if one partner comes from a well-off family, and the couple is seemingly set for life? Does that make everything easier?

People on the Internet were curious to know what being married or dating a wealthy person is like. So the netizens who have been or still are in a relationship with 'a rich person' told their stories. And every person's experience was different: some described wealthy families as surprisingly down-to-earth and hard-working, others – not so much.

#1

Image credits: WanderF**king_Chef

#2

Image credits: lifeHopes21

#3

Image credits: puresav

If you're a romantic, you might see no issue here. Two people love each other, so nothing else should matter, right? Not their social standing and not their financial situation. However, the reality is quite different. In real life, financial disparities matter to couples. According to a 2017 study by Ramsey Solutions, money is the number one issue couples fight about.

A German survey in 2020 found that 35% of couples say that money is a major source of conflict in their relationship. So, as much as we'd like to think that love conquers all, it's likely that even Cinderella and Prince Charming would have trouble overcoming that huge wealth gap.

#4

Image credits: jooronimo

#5

Image credits: Minia15

#6

Image credits: BlitheringEediot

Rick Kahler of Kahler Financial Group writes that in cases where the wealth gap is extremely large, like when one partner is, say, a millionaire or a billionaire, it's more about the outside pressures. He calls this the WWPT – "What Will Other People Think?" syndrome. It's mostly the disapproval from the wealthy partner's friends and family.

"It can get very sticky and uncomfortable when one person is coming into the relationship with a lot of family money and the other person has limited resources, especially if the people don't know each others' families very well," Heather Flanagan, PNC's wealth management director, told Delaware Business Times.

#7

Image credits: xjnoodles

#8

#9

Image credits: Desert-Mouse

A huge wealth gap between partners can create an imbalanced power dynamic in the relationship. The wealthier person might feel like they have more authority over the family's finances. In some cases, maybe even regarding the household, solely because they're the breadwinner.

#10

Image credits: Funnyllama20

#11

Image credits: Faefae33

#12

Image credits: bidextralhammer

Conflicts may arise between the couple if there are financial secrets, especially when the relationship is getting more serious and treading on marriage. Tim Melia, CFP, MBA, founder of Embolden Financial Planning in Seattle, told Yahoo Finance that it's important for spouses to know each other's financial situation. "Starting with a net worth statement that shows assets and liabilities allows for both spouses to understand where they are starting from on a factual basis," he said.

#13

Image credits: Chad_RVA

#14

Image credits: mmaddymon

#15

Image credits: just_some_dude05

Millionaires have to talk about their finances with their partners. Even they are not immune from fighting about money. A 2016 PNC study showed that 1 in 4 millionaire couples argue about money. And those who didn't have honest conversations about their finances before marriage have it the worst.