Fabulously Wealthy but not Privileged

I had always assumed that being born into an extremely wealthy family meant that I was privileged. But that was before the finest minds at Illinois State, Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka came up with this privilege quiz.

I scored a one out of thirty-three. You would have to be practically homeless to be less privileged than me. No longer will I feel a responsibility to society, because I am one of the underprivileged!

Original source: The list is based on an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. The exercise developers ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright. [Uh, okay, since it means so much to you]

The one that applies to me is in bold.

Father went to college – nope
Father finished college – nope
Mother went to college – nope
Mother finished college – College is for people who need a trade.

Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor – How embarrassing would that be? These are people you hire; no trade folk in my family.

Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers – Besides the homeless, who isn’t?

Had more than 50 books in your childhood home – We threw the out all of our books after reading them.

Had more than 500 books in your childhood home

Were read children’s books by a parent – That’s a laugh; one word: Nanny.

Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 – Lessons in what?

Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18

The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively – Hah! People like us are despised in the media.

Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18 – Credit is for poor people who can’t pay cash.

Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs – Again, why would I go to college? To learn to write quizzes like this?

Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs

Went to a private high school – Nope, Malibu public schools.

Went to summer camp – We mostly summered in the South of France, not really a camp.

Had a private tutor before you turned 18 – Tutors are for stupid people.

Family vacations involved staying at hotels – No, we vacationed in one of our vacation homes, duh!

Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 – I’ve bought plenty of new clothes since I turned 18.

There was original art in your house when you were a child – It was always on loan to museums for tax purposes.

Had a phone in your room before you turned 18 – If I needed a phone, it was brought in on a silver tray by the butler.

You and your family lived in a single family house – Our houses were large enough for several families.

Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home – No, the homes were owned by an offshore shell corporation.

You had your own room as a child from age twelve on – My branch of the house was also owned by an offshore shell corporation.

Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course – Aced them without prep courses, thank you very much.

Had your own TV in your room in High School – No, a separate home theater room.

Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College – Most of my money was in Cayman island bank accounts.

Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16 – Fly commercial? Perish the thought! Private jets only (the BBJ).

Went on a cruise with your family – We preferred the Alps.

Went on more than one cruise with your family

Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up – Once again, the Nannies.

You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family – You have to monitor these things, or the accountants will rob you blind.