Whenever we read another wild or completely bizarre news about some insanely rich guy doing something that we mere mortals wouldn’t only lack the money for, but also the imagination for, we ask ourselves - what the hell is going on?
Why have some incredibly expensive and, from our point of view, meaningless hobbies become firmly associated in the public consciousness with the most moneyed folk? And where is that fine line between reckless spending and just 'can afford' hobbies? Well, this viral thread on the AskReddit community is dedicated to such hobbies, and Bored Panda has made a selection of the best opinions from this thread for you.
More info: Reddit
#1
Hunt endangered animals.
Image credits: SKMTG
#2
Visit the titanic wreck in a cheap submarine.
Image credits: Nice_Ambassador_348
#3
Fox hunting.
Image credits: TapeDeckSlick
Well, since ancient times there have been incredibly rich people, and they also had hobbies that were inaccessible to 99% of those around them. For example, chariot racing in the ancient world. By the way, did you know that the ancient Olympic champion in chariot racing was not the rider, but the owner of the chariot and horses? If this seems weird to you, remember that the Oscar for the best film goes to the producer, not the director or starring actors...
#4
Buying an expensive car and then keeping it in your garage without ever actually driving it.
Image credits: Street-Basket-4457
#5
Buying $500 vintage jeans.
Image credits: rosevine
#6
Climb everest.
Image credits: uddsvek1427
And also, insanely rich people at all times have loved hobbies steadily associated with risk to life. For example, knightly tournaments in the Middle Ages - a good war horse, armor and weapons were quite comparable in cost to a brand new racing car today. In addition, it was necessary to pay for fencing teachers - after all, you are risking your life and health in any case.
#7
Collecting all the resources and money so they own millions of times more than their fair share?
Image credits: Joalguke
#8
Fund raisers for yacht clubs.
Image credits: Melodic-Metal3294
#9
Buying modern 'art'.
Image credits: imclearlyahuman
So why do people who can afford if not everything, then a hell of a lot in this life, risk their lives and health in search of a new hobby? It's all about adrenaline and dopamine - the very hormones on which our enjoyment of life depends so much.
That is, if for me or for you, purchasing a new smartphone gives us enough dopamine, then a dude who earns the equivalent of a new iPhone every minute of his life simply won’t feel any pleasure from such a ‘trifle.’ The more financial opportunities you have, the more difficult it will be for you to enjoy life in the usual ways.
#10
Rich Arabs cloning camels by the dozen because that first camel was really pretty. Cute.
Image credits: BabeBlossom_
#11
Collecting felony convictions.
Image credits: Mooseagery
#12
Marlin fishing
buy a multi million dollar sports fishing boat. have a full time captain to maintain it. compete in marlin tournaments during season where there is big money pay outs for winning and the owners also do side bets w each other.
then spend 12 hours mindlessly trolling around and prob not catch anything other than sun burn and bordom.
Image credits: bucketsofpoo
How does this all work? Just look at the example of Bruce Almighty, the movie with Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman. Yes, this is a fictional comedy, but it shows quite well how an ordinary person, receiving unlimited opportunities, gradually loses the very ability to enjoy simple everyday trifles. Want to check it out for yourself? Well, it is actually possible, but first you need to get rich as hell...
#13
Polo.
Image credits: Frimacopter
#14
Firework shows. And we are talking multi-million dollar contracts in some cases. Literally throwing money into the sky to burn.
Image credits: TumedasKihutaja
#15
Anything with horses.
Image credits: VistaBox
Be that as it may, life is such that it’s unlikely that you and I will become insanely rich by the wave of someone's magic wand (the last of such wands was called ‘Bitcoin’ and was widely available over ten years ago...). So for now, let's just scroll this list to the very end, and maybe add your own ideas of the weird hobbies that rich people do. After all, if discussing rich people brings us our portion of dopamine, then why not?
#16
Activities that cost a lot of money but come with a higher risk of death.
Examples include space tourism, gliding sailing/yachts etc.
Image credits: johndoe1130
#17
Starting and hiding the existence of a second family as a result of cheating on their partner.
Image credits: FXN2210
#18
Some rich people get super into collecting exotic pets. Like, yeah man, I’m sure your pet tiger is real fun until it starts thinking you look like a snack. Imagine trying to explain to your insurance company that your cheetah ate your couch… and your neighbor.
Image credits: Elizabethgeorgia
#19
Consume food or drink with gold on or in it. Basically, eat gold.
Image credits: Glorious-gnoo
#20
Fly 150 of us out to an island and only the sole survivor makes it home.
Image credits: grabbena
#21
Run around the city dressed like a bat.
Image credits: bulky_lifter01
#22
Extreme Bathing like having a luxurious bath rituals, including using rare ingredients or soaking in extravagant locations, can come off as over the top.
Image credits: PetiteAllyx
#23
Collecting expensive handbags.
Image credits: Moon_Jewel90
#24
Collect sneakers
Image credits: savessh
#25
Collect watches.
Image credits: TheNextUnicornAlong
#26
Yacht Racing.
Image credits: DivineDiva_45
#27
Golf.
Image credits: Fit-Squash-1281
#28
play casino
Image credits: Myctic_Darling
