Does money derive some of its value from the differences in wealth among individuals?

Answer 1

Money derives its value from how much "stuff" it can get. Money in and of itself is not something people want. It's pretty much worthless in its own right. What people desire is what money can be traded for. Thus, money derives its value from purchasing power. Even those who save money save it in order to eventually convert it to stuff, or leave it to heirs who will do this.
Money doesn't necessarily derive its value from differences in wealth; however, how much money and thus purchasing power one has can be seen by the differences in wealth.

Answer 2

“When you accept money in payment for your effort, you do so only on the conviction that you will exchange it for the product of the effort of others. It is not the moochers or the looters who give value to money. Not an ocean of tears nor all the guns in the world can transform those pieces of paper in your wallet into the bread you will need to survive tomorrow. Those pieces of paper….are a token of honor.. your claim upon the energy of the men who produce. Your wallet is your statement of hope that somewhere in the world around you there are men who will not default on that moral principle which is the root of money.”

Differences in wealth have to do with who is productive and who is not.