What he HELL does everyone do in OC to make money? (Irvine: mortgage, good credit)

[oc2nyc]

I often have the same question. We make a good living, by most people's standards, and still struggle to live here. I can't imagine how much you have to make to have the huge house full of expensive furniture, the nice cars and fancy vacations. I often wonder what we are doing wrong, other than trying to raise four children in Southern California. I do know that when we visit family in CT, one of the richest states in the nation, people don't flaunt their wealth like they do here. Hence the reason we will be moving there soon. Many of my friends remind me that in Orange County people do what ever they can to "look" like they have money, even still, how do they maintain that? I don't think it's Old Money out here so I would love to know how these people in Newport, Laguna, etc. are doing it.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Of the people who actually DO have money, there isn't a single reason. I know a lot of people who have done quite well for themselves. Of course you've got doctors and lawyers but there's also

An insurance agency owner,
A commercial electrician,
Co-owner of an aerospace subcontractor,
Owner of a chain of hardware stores,
Ford dealership owner,
Founder of a sporting goods manufacturer who cashed for a few million

Of course the common thread would be that they're all business owners but the industries are all different. There's no single way to make a fortune.

[impala666]

Originally Posted by SoCalCroozer

I'm from the midwest (St. Louis) and lived 7 years in Colorado. I've seen my fair share of wealth and rich people. But having lived two years here in the "OC" and hanging out in Newport, Laguna, Coto, etc. and driving around Nellie Gail and so many other wealthy subdivisions it's sickening how wealthy people are here compared to the rest of the country. I mean what the hell does everyone do around here to justify this wealth and standard of living? Is everyone a doctor, lawyer, business owner, super professional? Some of you wonder why OC and CA in general has such a bad rap well think about it.............the average Californian or more specifically the average Orange Countian is so far out of touch with mainstream America it's laughable. I mean some of the people out here live like gluttons. The gap between the haves and the have nots is most apparent in a county like Orange that's for sure. I've never seen so many BMW's, Mercedes, Maseratis, Ferraris, Bentleys etc. The funny thing is this state is bankrupt. LMAO! It's quite ironic. There are many things I love about Southern California and south Orange County is a very nice place to live. But there are WAY too many out of touch wealthy snobs out here.

There's nothing like watching an OCian out washing their beautiful car or better yet having it detailed by some Mexican teenager all the while wondering to myself when the hell it's going to rain again. After all OC uses more water than any other county in Southern California! Yall are some funny people out here!

They sell expensive stuff to each other.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by Charles

Here are the median incomes for several zips in south OC:

Median income is only a good measure for lower middle-class/middle-class communities, the upper middle-class and above start to have wealth which does not necessarily show up in income statistics.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

there's also

An insurance agency owner,
A commercial electrician,
Co-owner of an aerospace subcontractor,
Owner of a chain of hardware stores,
Ford dealership owner,
Founder of a sporting goods manufacturer who cashed for a few million

Of course the common thread would be that they're all business owners but the industries are all different. There's no single way to make a fortune.

Totally reminds me of this book:

Amazon.com: The Millionaire Next Door (9780671015206): Thomas J. Stanley, William D. Danko: Books

The number one vehicle owned by millionaires in the United States is a Ford F-150.

[Scott5280]

I agree with much of OC. fronting as wealthy, when I lived in Aspen Colorado I knew people that could have bought and sold most people in Newport Beach.. "Exactly Mach," exotic cars in front of apartments at Promontory Point.. I lived at Promontory PT off Jamnoree in Newport and Lido Isle for a while surrounded by posers. I have a friend from Aspen who's parents a own a whole strip of beach front homes on Sea Shore Drive NB Peninsula, and several large undeveloped lots,,top of the world Laguna area,houses in Maui,NYC..We were out partying at NB Brew one night and he got dissed for driving a Honda by some local fake wanna bee's ..OC does have some serious wealth, but I know areas along Denver's front range that easily rival it Big Big MONEY is in the Colorado Mountain resort towns..less in your face though..

[LibraGirl123]

Originally Posted by oc2nyc

Many of my friends remind me that in Orange County people do what ever they can to "look" like they have money, even still, how do they maintain that? I don't think it's Old Money out here so I would love to know how these people in Newport, Laguna, etc. are doing it.

I think your friends are right, and I think some of these people who "appear" to be wealthy are in hock up to their ears. I have a family member who lives in Orange County. She drives a fairly new Mercedes (leased, I think), and buys tons of expensive clothes, shoes and purses (Coach, Dooney & Burke). Yet, she and her husband do not own a house...they've lived in the same mid-size apartment for eons.

[native56]

How depressing to read the tone of this thread. You say it's sickening to see so many wealthy people, how do they justify their standard of living, and that there is some sort of [impenetrable] gap between what you call the haves and have nots.

Your reaction to those who achieve is to condemn them. While you are drinking beer and watching football many of these weathy snobs are working long hours at their businesses. How dare they study hard in school, risk their savings, sacrifice their time to their businesses and reap the rewards. You act as though they belong to some sort of club where all members become rich and you have been shut out. Why should it bother you that they choose to live in nice houses and drive Mercedes? Maybe that is what motivates them to achieve. Has it ever occurred to you that when they prosper and their companies grow that you might prosper too? Probably not. There are too many people nowadays who see a successful person as the robber of the poor.

Before I became an achiever I used to enjoy driving through OC's nicer neighborhoods and dreaming of the day when I could join them. And I hope my kids will do the same. But it's getting tough. The scumbags that run Sacramento and DC at the moment are using this class warfare nonsense and their lawmaking authority to drain away the hope for my kids and grandkids to become achievers. They are burdening them with a huge future tax load and creating a system that will make it very hard to succeed. Almost as though they want to create the private club that you are worried about.

Want to make the poor more prosperous? Start electing lawmakers who will remove the obstacles to success. I'm talking about doing away with taxes that punish success and making it easier to start or expand a business by throwing away silly laws. And how about making heroes out of the achievers instead of calling them snobs. I'd like my kids to be successful - wouldn't you?

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by native56

How depressing to read the tone of this thread. You say it's sickening to see so many wealthy people, how do they justify their standard of living, and that there is some sort of [impenetrable] gap between what you call the haves and have nots.

Your reaction to those who achieve is to condemn them. While you are drinking beer and watching football many of these weathy snobs are working long hours at their businesses. How dare they study hard in school, risk their savings, sacrifice their time to their businesses and reap the rewards. You act as though they belong to some sort of club where all members become rich and you have been shut out. Why should it bother you that they choose to live in nice houses and drive Mercedes? Maybe that is what motivates them to achieve. Has it ever occurred to you that when they prosper and their companies grow that you might prosper too? Probably not. There are too many people nowadays who see a successful person as the robber of the poor.

Before I became an achiever I used to enjoy driving through OC's nicer neighborhoods and dreaming of the day when I could join them. And I hope my kids will do the same. But it's getting tough. The scumbags that run Sacramento and DC at the moment are using this class warfare nonsense and their lawmaking authority to drain away the hope for my kids and grandkids to become achievers. They are burdening them with a huge future tax load and creating a system that will make it very hard to succeed. Almost as though they want to create the private club that you are worried about.

Want to make the poor more prosperous? Start electing lawmakers who will remove the obstacles to success. I'm talking about doing away with taxes that punish success and making it easier to start or expand a business by throwing away silly laws. And how about making heroes out of the achievers instead of calling them snobs. I'd like my kids to be successful - wouldn't you?

I think you missed the point. There is a difference between respecting wealth and the work it took to achieve it vs. recognizing OC is full of people who are pretending to be wealthy.

[native56]

Go back and read the post that started this thread about the OC wealthy. I'm not missing the point at all.