The moral paradox of extreme wealth: Why people oppose it yet are reluctant to take steps to reduce it

Extreme inequality is commonplace, so why do people accept it?

By: Jen Cole Wright, College of Charleston, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 7, 2026

Words: 1,495

Last Updated: 1 week, 4 days ago

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By Jen Cole Wright, College of Charleston

In 2026 – up until July – Elon Musk’s estimated wealth was growing by somewhere between US$30 million and $100 million an hour, making him, at least briefly, the worlds’ first trillionaire. By comparison, the typical American worker earns between $23 and $56 an hour.

While Musk’s wealth, even in the face of recent losses, is extreme, dramatic disparities have become commonplace. As of 2026, America …

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