Magnates attract status
There is an obvious case for suggesting that politicians and minor royals like to associate with billionaires because they don't have enough money themselves to live the lifestyle they think their status entitles them to.
Status does not necessarily correlate with access to wealth. Politicians and minor royals often do have high social status but comparatively limited liquid wealth. For example, a minor royal may inherit titles, connections, and ceremonial duties, but not the vast estates or income streams that sustain senior royals. Similarly, politicians may have influence, but usually earn salaries that, although large by average standards, are small compared to billionaire wealth.
Being close to billionaires can give them access to luxuries, travel, and experiences that they might otherwise struggle to afford, reinforcing the lifestyle they believe matches their status.
There is a symbolic association, too, in that billionaires are seen as embodiments of power in the modern world. Associating with them can serve as a way for politicians or royals to ‘borrow’ that aura of influence, even if the money doesn’t flow directly into their own pockets. It can also signal to others that they move in the ‘right’ circles of global elites.
And there are practical advantages in the association. Politicians might seek campaign funding, business opportunities after office, or policy influence through these relationships.
Royals, especially minor ones without large state support, may rely on wealthy patrons for sponsorships, invitations, or philanthropy linked to their own projects.
There’s a psychological element in it, too. There’s a plausible argument that people in these positions feel entitled to a certain standard of living as part of their rank or role. If their own resources don’t cover it, associating with billionaires helps bridge the gap. This doesn’t always mean financial dependence; sometimes it’s about lifestyle mimicry, proximity to luxury, or validation.
This is not to say that all politicians or royals are motivated primarily by money or lifestyle. Some cultivate billionaire ties for strategic reasons such as policy influence, charity work, or access to networks rather than for personal consumption.
It is a two-way street, in that wealthy individuals are the ones pursuing the prestige of associating with royalty or political power. It can be a mutualtransaction of status and money.
So, while there is a credible case that part of the appeal for politicians and minor royals is access to the moneyed lifestyle they feel entitled to but can’t sustain themselves, it’s usually interwoven with other factors such as influence, image, and mutual reinforcement of elite status.
Madsen Pirie