I'd like to start by sharing my surprise at your surprise. I don't know how an American could not be aware that this lifestyle choice is common in the U.S. It would seem to be more common in the U.S than in many others as the concentration of wealth is very high.

I agree that this kind of lifestyle seems strange. When you see people who are rich and foolish with their money at the same time it doesn't make sense. That is until you understand the majority are rich as part Multi Generational families of Bureaucrats/Bankers/Lobbyists working to connect Crony Capitalists to Government.

Then showing off how rich you are makes perfect sense. They need to show they have graft to give, and prove to themselves they are important.

Employing someone to wipe your bum does not seem like good business sense to me, having said that I don't make a moral judgement against people who spend their money like this.

Myself I'd like to think that there are LOTS of uber wealthy people who don't live like this, particularly the multi generational farming families that are slowing being pushed out by Big Ag and Government assisted Crony Capitalism.

To me knowing how to work the land is a wealth of knowledge that is far more important than how many bathrooms your butler cleans.

I couldn't work for any employer that isn't interested in training/teaching me something I don't already know. Otherwise if I have to train or teach you, you will pay me as an equal or not at all