The Revolt of the Rich Kids Armed with Ivy League diplomas and cultural capital but locked out of wealth and status, this disaffected class is fueling America’s new radicalism.
Pro-Palestinian students set up an encampment in support of Gaza at the University of California, San Diego on May 1, 2024. (Katie McTiernan/Anadolu via Getty Images)
In America, we love a rags-to-riches tale. Think of Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish immigrant who rose from bobbin boy to steel magnate; Oprah Winfrey, who grew up poor in rural Mississippi; even Elon Musk, the awkward South African transplant who transformed himself into the richest man alive. These stories are endlessly recycled because they affirm a central American creed: that each generation can surpass the one before. This article is featured in U.S. Politics. Sign up here to get an update every time a new piece is published. Today, however, that creed is starting to creak. In 2025, the most combustible force in American society isn’t upward mobility, but its opposite...
Become a paid subscriber Get access to our comments section, special columns like TGIF and Things Worth Remembering, tickets in advance to our live events, and more. UPGRADE TODAY |
