Rich People Should be like Peggy Guggenheim

We're cursed with the worst generation of Rich People

First off, read my essay on TENNIS as a metaphor for UNRESOLVED CONFLICT and the unfortunate, juicy story of when I broke my ankle on the court for DIRT.

Tennis interrogates tension in a bodily way without physical contact, and for that reason it’s the perfect battleground to wage romance, conflict, or romantic conflict. Courtside tantrums may be penalized, but that does not discourage them from happening. There is a reason that Noah Baumbach’s 2005 divorce film, The Squid and the Whale, opens with a family playing doubles. The sport can often bring out the worst in people, and an onscreen game of tennis offers a sly narrative device. How does each character react to winning, losing, competition? The civilized order of the game adds significance to when someone smashes a racket or curses—It’s considered unsportsmanlike and there are consequences. Without much effort, it can show a person’s capacity for grace. Then, there is the sensual aspect of tennis where when played correctly, there is a rapport between the players, and it can be the physical embodiment of flirtatious banter. This banter can be thrilling, but happens few and far between.

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PEGGY GUGGENHEIM

I simply can’t get into the news right now, everything makes me disgusted. We are seeing any progress made in the last fifty years crumble under the demands of the most ghoulish, tasteless losers. An oligarchy is (and has been) forming in front of us and it seems these men want to set the world aflame even faster than the current expedited timeline. Sometimes I am agog at how these people are villains across all issues and industries. Really? There’s nothing you have a correct take on?

Today’s newsletter is not about that. It’s something that is light, slightly sharp, and poking fun at these terrible ghouls. This is more a complaint about WHAT is going on with rich people. There was once a time rich people used to have STANDARDS of taste and were actually interested in culture. You may be like, Marlowe, what about the Guinness, Bronfman, Getty, Niarchos families. Okay no, those families made their money in the 20th century or prior to. It’s like asking me about the Astors or the Rockefellers or the Vanderbilts. I’m talking about the “I knew one day I’d have to watch powerful men burn the world down – I just didn’t expect them to be such losers” rich people.

Two small anecdotes first:

1. Once, I was taking a connecting flight out of Charlotte, North Carolina. I had time to spare and sat down at a Mexican restaurant in the airport. I was alone and eavesdropping on a table of men next to me. From what I could tell, they were flying to D.C. and were in public office. Their conversation was just a mix of QAnon conspiracy theories about like, child sex trafficking and immigrants. I was honestly shocked hearing them talk like that in private, since for some reason I thought these kinds of politicians did this just to stoke moral panics and incite discord. But no, they’re actually that stupid. Anyway, the most amusing part was when they all ordered their food, there was an option to get their burritos “American style” or “Mexican style”… Guess what style they all ordered… God forbid they did anything non-patriotic! Complete brain rot.

2. On Friday night I went to a very busy bar, and it was nearly midnight. One of my friends was outside and said, “Marlowe, you’ll die. There’s a man READING at the bar.” Now, to give you context, this wasn’t like a pub. This was a bumping Friday night and it was dark and people were pushed up against one another trying to get by. This man wasn’t at a table or even a ledge, this man was sat up on a stool “reading,” and was very aware he was on display. Of course, I took this opportunity as a reason to prod. After some words, I asked him what he did and he said, “Strategies.” I rolled my eyes to my friend, “Oh, he’s in marketing.” This man rolled his eyes back at me and said, “No, not like marketing. Strategies like STEVE BANNON.” (???????!!!!!!??????!!!!!) See, I’m in Greece, this man was German, and I just didn’t think “Steve Bannon” was what was going to come out of his mouth. Anyway, I made him really upset because I asked to hold his Rolex to see how heavy it is (I do this sometimes… I mean it does imply that I think it’s fake but usually they let me hold it.) Well, this man did not let me hold it, and then got all agitated and sour. I do the lord’s work every day. After this little interaction, I was thinking we might have to form a powerful and disturbing faction of mean party girls to go after these losers. You know where to find me!

Now, onto the business I brought you here for. Let’s shift to something a little more fun. At cocktail parties, I always ask if you had all the money in the world, what is one thing you’d want to buy? You get to understand a lot of people’s characters that way. Totally ignore anyone that says a yacht or something completely unimaginative. I mean, my answer is a Fabergé egg.

Now, Peggy Guggenheim. She got to LIVE this question. Her father, Benjamin Guggenheim (brother to Solomon R. Guggenheim… You know, the name on the side of the museum) died on the Titanic and left Peggy with a hefty inheritance (Supposedly $10 million in today’s money), though still small beans compared to the rest of her family. As Vanity Fair reports in 1986, “Survivors of that great marine disaster told of how, as the ship began to sink, Ben(jamin) and his male secretary changed into full evening dress in order ‘to go down like gentlemen.’” See, rich people had CLASS! Imagine Jeff Bezos going down on the Titanic… He would simply kick a child off a lifeboat.