Why is wealth equated with intelligence?

Question

For example, I've heard some say that obviously, wealthy people were smart enough to become wealthy, and poor people aren't smart enough to get out of poverty.

While I can somewhat comprehend this perspective, I find it a short-sighted generalization. Is it a common belief that the rich are smart? Does anyone here think this way? If so, why?

(I'm reminded of Lewis Black's "Taxed Beyond Belief" . . . . )

Answer 1

I can't say that's a fair generalization. Most the wealthy people I've met acquired their wealth through no means of their own, but rather got their money through family inheritance. Then consider celebrities -- is it intelligence that got them their wealth, or ability for them (or more commonly their representative) to sell themselves?

Answer 2

Simply not true. A truly intelligent person to me is street smart,book smart, and has a lot of common sense. Not generalizing or anything but a lot of rich people I've known don't have all 3 of those qualities put together.

Answer 3

That's not true. The rich are not always smart and the poor aren't always dumb. Take a look at Britney Spears. She's dumb and she's rich; also take a look at those past philosophers in history and thinkers...a good number of them were poor. It is just a generalization, you're absolutely right.

Answer 4

it is pretty generalized, but its tru, kindof...

clearly the people who got rich had the smarts to get all that money...the only way stupid people stumble upon that kind of money is when red-necks win the lotery...the rich people may not be intelligent in the way that einstein was, but it takes a lot more than dumb luck to become a CEO or invent the next big thing.

Answer 5

I never thought it was.