I learned a lesson about the upper class when I was 18 and driving a cab in Chicago, to pay for college. This lesson has stayed with me for all of my life.
I used to pick up fares at the high-rise buildings along Lake Shore Drive, home to the richest of the rich, back in the 70's. These people, lawyers, stock brokers, MD's, etc., typically had me drive them to the business district in The Loop, Chicago's downtown. The fare, back then, was .80-.90. One day I picked up this woman at the ritziest high-rise right at Oak and The Drive. Her fare was .80 and she gave me a dollar. I thanked her and waited for her to get out of my cab. She then said, "Driver I'm waiting for my change. I need a dime for the phone." Yeah, right! I was so amazed and disgusted that I gave her the .20 back and told her, "Here's your change. I'm sure you need this more than I do!" To this day I know, and have seen it over and over again, that some of the wealthiest people are some of the stingiest #$%^& in the world. They still disgust me. I always said that when I made it big, I would never be like them. Now I'm pretty well off and I always try to tip well and not disrespect people who may have less than me.