Young Millionaire Culture

We live in a time of teen tech moguls and social media superstars; the age of soft lives and unfiltered windows into the lifestyles of strangers across the globe. Social media has transformed the way we live, work and interact with one another, but it’s also given rise to a new generation of influencers who have achieved fame and wealth at a younger age than ever before. This can be inspiring, of course, but when constantly faced with 20-somethings driving around in supercars and swinging around keys to ten-bedroom mansions, young millionaire culture creates the unhealthy expectation that success and wealth should come quickly and easily.

With the increased popularity of social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, influencers have become celebrities in their own right. They promote products, share their lives, and amass huge followings that secure them thousands if not hundreds of thousands of pounds for a single video.

Meanwhile, young tech entrepreneurs are creating apps and programmes that change the world, and often turn after-school bedroom projects into billionaire companies.

It’s certainly impressive to achieve such levels of success at a young age — and definitely worth celebrating the marvellous era of opportunity that we live in — but it’s also important to remember that these individuals are the exception rather than the norm.

The difficulty with young millionaire culture is that it creates an unhealthy expectation of achieving fame and wealth by the time you’re in your early to mid 20’s. The idea that you’re supposed to be rich and settled creates a sense of entitlement; the ingrained belief that if you reach your mid 20’s without a house, car and designer wardrobe, you’ve wasted your youth and failed as an adult.

Everyday, we’re bombarded with images and videos of young people enjoying lavish lifestyles, travelling the world, and making money through sponsored content and brand collaborations — and it has become increasingly common to see teens striving to become famous and wealthy before they even enter the workforce.

To many, the prospect of a traditional career fails to feed that sense of instant gratification, which ultimately leads to a lack of focus on important life skills like education and self-discipline.

When it comes to mental health, the constant pressure to be seen and heard, the ongoing hunt for that million-pound idea, can take a serious toll on anyone’s mind and spirit — especially when the expected success doesn’t come as quickly as anticipated, or sometimes at all.

The fear of failure can be overwhelming, and the constant pressure to innovate and stay ahead of the competition can be exhausting. If you spend your entire 20s in the tornado that is achieving quick success, the world will spin past you until one day you realise just how much time you’ve wasted by not living in the moment.

As a society, we need to encourage young people to pursue their passions and goals, while emphasising the importance of hard work, patience and resilience.

Success and wealth shouldn’t be the only markers of a fulfilling and meaningful life, even though the internet tells us they are.