25 Signs A Rich Person Is Old Money Vs. New Money

20.

WHISPERS OLD MONEY: “Fluency in another language is much more likely (due to a better general education).”

“I’m from the UK, so we may have slightly different customs, but we have a lot of very old and wealthy families here with hereditary titles and historic family homes. In the UK, they’d usually be fluent in French or German. Knowledge of Latin and Greek used to be more common; your older family members will be better versed in these subjects, but it’s still taught well in the public schools. The kids will not study dippy subjects at uni but will be encouraged towards things like law, medicine, and classics. If they are into music, they will go to a conservatoire. Even if they never intend to practice these things, it’s mainly for their parents’ approval, and so that they are not seen as academically mediocre.

“Many have to work hard in order to impress their parents and maintain their approval; this isn’t because the parents are harsh, but usually because they are aware of their wealth and privilege and try to ensure the kids don’t grow up too spoiled and entitled. Enforcing rigorous household rules, good manners, and humility and pushing for academic success is a good way to ensure that the children don’t just get an easy ride to inherited wealth, and that they hopefully grow up polite and appreciative of what they have. This doesn’t always work out, though.”

—u/Seruati