Born Rich
First-time filmmaker Jamie Johnson, a 23-year-old heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune, captures the rituals, worries and social customs of the young Trumps, Vanderbilts, Newhouses and Bloombergs in the documentary special, Born Rich.
Offering candid insights into the privileges and burdens of inheriting more money than most people will earn in a lifetime. Narrated by Johnson, a history student at New York University, and filmed over a three-year period, Born Rich spotlights ten young adults who came into the world knowing they would never have to work a day in their lives.
These society-column names speak frankly about the one subject they all know is taboo: money. With his unfettered access to this rarefied subculture, Johnson explores topics such as the anxieties of being cut off, and the misconception that money can solve all problems.
Most wealthy people are told from a very young age not to talk about money, notes Johnson. Consequently, they are extremely reluctant to speak to people about their backgrounds. Also, many of the subjects in my film already have more public recognition than they may want, and have very little to gain by receiving more.
Among the peers Johnson interviews are: Josiah Hornblower, heir to the Vanderbilt and Whitney fortunes; S.I. Newhouse IV, of the Conde Nast Newhouses; Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald Trump; and Georgianna Bloomberg, daughter of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The story begins with the advent of the filmmaker’s 21st birthday, and his mingled anticipation and fear of receiving his portion of the family inheritance.
Unsure about the future direction of his own life, Johnson decides to document the experiences of his privileged peers in dealing with their family’s legacies. He explores their candid perspectives on subjects ranging from life philosophies and trust funds to prenuptial agreements and career choices, ultimately revealing their common struggle to discover their own identity.
Well, the movie was 'ok'. There's nothing wrong with a film, depicting the subculture of the children of the established plutocrats.
The question I have is why not a single one of them, had a single desire or passion in life. Didn't even one of them, want to write science fiction, a piece of music, or build a sculpture?
Growing up, I was never encouraged to pursue art, writing, etc, and was instead, pushed towards areas like accounting, engineering, health care, etc, because that's where the jobs were. You see, being from the lower to middle classes, doesn't exactly give one the freedom, to pursue one's passions, unless that passion is becoming a financier, management consultant, or doctor.
And for me, that's the difference between being born rich and being ordinary.
But, did Jamie Johnson bother mentioning that his crack addicted sister, who was bosom buddies with Paris Hilton, committed suicide when she overdosed on drugs and booze? I guess she became a crack addict because she couldn't think of anything more worthy to spend her money on besides booze, drugs and parties. One thing's for sure - she didn't take her trust fund with her.
Dear Boy (and now a man), good on you for having the courage to do this film. It was really informative. Now as a past foster mom to 20 troubled teens, I can tell you, my heart ached for these young people you presented. Though they laughed alot and smiled, said positive things, I didnt really feel much true happiness in depth with any of them, nor did I get a sense of their being capable of true empathy or compassion. Saddest of all is they have little real awareness of the programming they have been subject to, but you can hear their hearts and souls asking for more. My suggestion for every extremely wealthy young person (on into 20's and even 30's is to take min 6 months of their lives and do an adventure. Do a discovery into the realm of the reality that the majority of humans have and see if that doesn't answer some real questions. Go get an average job, and live on that money alone, take no money from outside your income. Now experience not having all the little luxuries that you get routinely now. What you are now is 'entitled' and that is the domain of the minority (i.e. extremely wealthy) and with this you obtain a limited view on life, self, hopes and dreams. Travel in the real world for awhile and see if your knowledge and instincts do not expand phenomenally.
Wealth is not measured by how much money you have, but by how much you give to others. This is the secret to happiness.
I think everyone should start out with nothing...the truly able will always achieve. But under all of that, there's no point in living life unless you're going to enrich others' lives in the process.
It is insane how many of us have to work so hard in order not to live but just to survive and still can not have a smell of that money. By the age of 40 many of us end up to be disable from work and we have to deal with the medical on our own. Even if I creative and have insteresting ideas, I am still not Ivanka Trump or kid from wealthy family who can make their dream come true in a second.
I would like to thank for your great creation.
This was an interesting look into their lives. I don't think they should feel guilty. Any person worth their salt would leave a legacy for their child if they could. But the sad part is that most lack a sense of direction. Money alone is not a meaningful life. I find I don't envy them.
Insightful! Not surprising! Wealth brings it's own set of problems! You can't pick your family , you just try and deal with the one you are born into! Rich or Poor we all have issues that dwell beneath the surface, would it be better to deal with them as a wealthy person ,YES! Money can't cure the mental state of mind , so if your child grows up to be a Jerk ,then rich or poor he is a Jerk! I've known quite a few wealthy people and yes some can be Snobs , but also it is because of the way society treats them ,but once they get in an environment where no one cares about how rich they are ,they tend to become more like any one else , just trying to be themselves and live life! They have something that all of us wish we could obtain. Money! We also have something that they crave so desperately ! Freedom to just be themselves and not their parents , Freedom to just step outside and take a walk with out the cameras at your every move ,Freedom to just be you!
The absence of reaching out and giving others a leg up,
is remarkable.
Money is access.
Access to good schools, universities, professional medical care,
secure homes, food security, free from want and misery.
Money is freedom. It provides a person the ability to pursue their passions without the limits that most of us have. Certainly, having the financial backing to pursue higher education is a real plus to a person's future. I, like the kids interviewed for this film, was born into enough money to live without working, though of course not to the extremes they have. I have been given the luxury of getting a great education without student loans, and, really, I am forever grateful for that opportunity. Already, I've enjoyed benefits that others were not lucky enough to have. The point is I can relate somewhat to what some of them are thinking, but I believe most of them are significantly short sighted about what it means to have money.
Money is opportunity. The problem that most of these kids appear is have is that they have no reason to challenge themselves. And it seems that the parents have not done the greatest job at instilling a sense of purpose. Life can be horribly meaningless without goals, and successes and failures. Although it may sound cliche, life is a journey and possibly they are feeling that they are at the end of the journey without ever taking part. Their names surmount their own thoughts of their potential. However, they misunderstand the great potential they have.
Money gives you the freedom and opportunity to truly pursue your passions, whatever they may be. But, it also gives you the opportunity to make a great impact on the world. They would not have to look far to find many people that are wealthy that are not lost in what they can provide to the world. Take for instance the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, of whom Mayor Bloomberg is now a member, that is doing absolutely wonderful work throughout the world. Most of these kids' parents were/are active philanthropists, so why do none of them wish to use the freedom, opportunity, and relationships that their money provides to create a better world? Certainly, they, like myself, are in a perfect position to pursue building oneself in the effort to be able to provide a positive impact in their lifetimes. I believe that should be the answer to their question of what they should do with their lives. It is mine.
On another note, I find it confusing how blatant some of their remarks were. There were several racist or sexist or class related comments. Possibly they didn't know that this would be released? But, nevertheless, it looks like I'll never be sending my kids to any of the NYC prep schools if kids come out acting like that. I thought the point of these schools was to provide the best education, not sheltered unaware kids.
I was recommended this as a sequel to "Thrive: what in the World will it take" and was very disappointed. In Thrive, Foster Gambol uses his inherited wealth to actually make a difference for humanity - to expose the deep corruption at play that is creating global poverty, destroying our planet and filling our prisons with drug users. If these young people want to really utilize their money and access in a worthwhile manor, and improve their own lives while they are at it, making changes towards a more just world would a good activity.
When I saw this documentary years ago on HBO I predicted that Luke Weil would end up in jail. Well guess what? He was jailed for a year in a Tribeca detention center for a year for assaulting his girlfriend. Why such a long sentence when you know he has the money for the best lawyers? Several previous assault charges. Oh yeah, and he tried to sue Johnson after the documentary was released, saying he was "tricked" into appearing in it. WHAT a douche! Fortunately, his case was thrown out of court!
As the heir to the Dairy Queen fortune, I find this documentary to be both vulgar and tacky. That is why I refused to participate in it when asked.
If I were rich, I would definitely invest in scientific researches. And maybe have my own scientific center. Because I'm very interested in a lot of things, mostly in the discovery of the mysteries of the Univers, I know exactly what I would do with so much money. Rich people who don't know how to spend/invest their money and feel like they have done everything in their lives lack interest in things that really matter. In my opinion, at a certain point of your life, you have to start thinking of how you can help others. It helps to find a meaning in life (from my short experience of it since I'm only 19).
I think I learned more about people when I was homeless for over a year after comming home from Vietnam. Too bad some of these kids never got to experience any of that.
Call me crazy but I dream of a world like Star Trek. I beleive that one day money will not matter. That the only "grind" we will be on is discovering how to make the world better for everybody. Until that happens enjoy the life you have and continue to move forward.
The rich get richer, The poor get poorer,It is hard some days going with out Money but we Got God and he will help us, Not with Money but with love, The rich don`t have love they just what more money. It would be nice to have Money like the rest. But this is it. I would love to have Home and Money, But My Parents give me love to pass round.
I just would like to be able to afford gas to put in my car to make it to work week after week..and feed myself daily. Life's simple pleasures
When I think of the rich, I often wonder if they (most anyway) know what it would be like to live the way that I do. To go into a store and buy whatever I want with no worries, or to buy a home or car with no worries would be absolutely fasinating. But then, would I be happy? Money buys things, but things go away...to have a happy life, there is your key to success. I serve a Mighty and Awesome God, who is everything to me. more than silver or gold, He is more than enough. To serve God is more rewarding then anything money could buy.Now, reading most of these post...you see people talking about happiness...to us (the not so fortunate), we know what happiness truly is...and it is not in money. Try God!!
Rich or poor people abuse drugs to escape their problems.
Rich or poor people will have problems.
By statistics, to achieve this level of happiness you need 70,000 dollars per year. If you can make that typically the marginal benefit of money diminishes greatly.
When you inherit money, the only thing i can think of is buying a trophy wife. But all this prententious love how long will that last billionaires also go through divorces. I suspect that some of the people in there will die regretably death just based on the kind of mentality they project.
They may have a nice house to live towards the end but as companies fail and their fortune diminishes they will fall hard and never climb back.
The only thing that they should be lucky for is the for the education that they got However education is free these days and people are playing on level ground just because some people own jets do not make them more competient.
I hope for the best for these people but I see grey futures as their generation will disappearin three nations. And their grandkids will remember these people as the "spoiled rats" generations.
Thought provoking perspective of a fortunate life that most in the world cannot even imagine.
It is sad that most rich are simply born that way, sadder yet, that most born poor, dream only of becoming rich.
Imagine the freedom to pursue anything in life you wanted to. Imagine, the guilt you may have for not earning your elite stature.
I dream of a new world awakening, with a reward structure other than fiat money, everyone is able to earn a comfortable living and where everyone can pursue their own interests. Rewards are earned by your humanitarian deeds and works, where poverty is eradicated and obscene wealth is so embarrassing that nobody even dreams of it.
A world where good behavior is rewarded, instead of bad behavior, as in our current system. A world where crime does not pay, but good deeds do. The more you earn, the more you give, and by giving, you only earn more. You could never run out of means, nobody could become rich, and nobody could become poor. Simply taking care of each other, would insure that you all would never need for anything.
A world in which one is judged by their words, as well as their actions, instead of on the size of their bank account, or their color, race or gender. A world where all religions can follow the root commandments of their religions and finally understand that they are all worshiping the same ethics, morals and values.
I believe that the biggest lie in history, is that man cannot rule themselves. We could, I believe, if we only changed are value system and let wise men, instead of rich men rule us. We have not only allowed the obscenely rich elite to rule us, most of us are to busy dreaming of being like them to even consider another way, making it almost impossible to break the cycle of greed and despair, war and poverty.
But, we could..if we all, only wanted it bad enough.
It's good to be a real dreamer, the American dream was a lie.
For the most part truly the most vile individuals I have ever had the misfortune of seeing .
All money , No class .
Sections of this film show Mr. Johnson, the elder, blathering and mumbling. It reveals how hereditary wealth, passed on to offspring, breeds a class of listless drones with no imagination. In spite of that sad observation, because they can afford to be surrounded by educated sycophants called "wealth preservation experts", they're in no danger of losing it. That fact debunks the myth of an American meritocracy through achievement...the game where each new player born into our free market paradise gets a fair role of the dice. The Johnsons are an archetype of how 1% wealth (a zero sum game) gets concentrated in the control of a few families...generation after generation after generation after...
Makes even a calm, non-revolutionary type like me want to upset the Monopoly board and shout "Hey, start over...already!!!"