Here’s what ‘quiet luxury’ actually looks like.
By Morgan McMurrin | Aug 20, 2025 7:11 PM EDT | Read Original Post Here
If you suddenly had all the money you ever dreamed of, would you splurge on a stunning home with a view, finally park your childhood dream car in the driveway and fill your closet with designer pieces? Or would you keep things quiet in a “stealth wealth” way—still sipping your morning coffee at the same corner coffee shop, wearing your favorite worn-in jeans and living life just as you always have?
It’s a fascinating thing to imagine, because everyone expresses wealth differently. Some live out loud, while others prefer their riches to whisper. That’s why you truly can’t judge a book by its cover. Just because someone’s lifestyle may seem simple doesn’t mean their bank account is. In fact, many of the world’s most well-off people live in a way that’s quietly elegant and effortlessly understated. That’s why we’ve rounded up nine subtle signs of “stealth wealth“—those dreamy little details that often go unnoticed unless you know exactly what to look for.
We reached out to three financial experts to help shed light on this topic: Chad Willardson, Founder of Pacific Capital and ELEVATED; Bobbi Rebell, CFP and Consumer Finance Expert at CardRates.com; as well as Cary Carbonaro, CFP, MBA and author of Women and Wealth. Each expert offers a unique perspective—from everyday habits to easily-overlooked style choices—that often get overlooked, but can actually reveal someone’s true financial standing. From the quality of their accessories to how they travel, dine or even how they talk can speak volumes.
Read on to find out more about those things and what else can tip off that someone has more money than they let on. After all, while not everyone flaunts their wealth, once you know the signs of a stealth wealth person, they become surprisingly easy to spot. You may even find yourself wanting to borrow a few of their habits—not just to appear more refined, but to adopt the smart, intentional mindset that often goes hand-in-hand with lasting wealth.
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Table of Contents
- What Is ‘Stealth Wealth’?
- How To Be Silently Wealthy
- 9 Subtle Signs of Stealth Wealth That Are Easy To Miss, According To Finance Experts
- Sources:
What Is ‘Stealth Wealth’?
According to our experts, “stealth wealth” is also known as “quiet luxury.”
“People who fall into this category blend in with the middle class and could be very wealthy or uber wealthy, but you would not know from their homes, cars [or] clothes,” Carbonaro explains.
Willardson adds, “These are the people who value privacy over performance and substance over show. They don’t need validation, because they already have what most people are chasing.”
Rebell further explains the term, telling Parade that this is a choice based on intention and not denying themselves of something.
“To them, it is not a choice of deprivation, but it is a choice to be intentional and thoughtful about how they are spending their money, especially the money that is visible to others around them,” she shares.
Related: 7 Signs You Are Destined for Wealth, According to Astrologers
How To Be Silently Wealthy
When it comes to being silently wealthy, it’s all about not being flashy and standing out.
“People who are silently wealthy are not trying to be known,” Willardson points out. “They want to fly under the radar. These folks often look average by design; they’ve swapped the typical status symbols for comfort, durability and peace of mind. They’re not hiding their wealth; they just don’t center their identity around it. That makes them easy to overlook, unless you know what to look for.”
He continues, saying that stealth wealth or being silently wealthy is a “combination of two things: choice and perspective.”
“Some people grow up with money and are taught not to flaunt it. Others earn it, get the attention and realize it’s overrated,” he says. “Either way, the quietly wealthy prioritize freedom, discretion and long-term thinking. They don’t need a Rolex or a Rolls-Royce to feel successful. Their time is already their own.”
Carbonaro adds that someone who is silently wealthy also might not have visible signs of being rich because of where their money is kept.
“Usually all their money is in assets that make them money. For example, it could be in stocks, bonds, private businesses or rental real estate,” she says. “I always say you never know what someone is worth (net worth) unless you look under the hood like I get to do as a CFP.”
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9 Subtle Signs of Stealth Wealth That Are Easy To Miss, According To Finance Experts
1. Wearing high-quality, unbranded clothing
Our experts say that one of the most common subtle signs of stealth wealth comes down to someone’s wardrobe, which can throw you off because it’s not usually filled with luxurious brands.
“By the very definition, those who have stealth wealth are actively keeping their full financial means private,” Rebell notes, which is why she says they aren’t fans of wearing big-name, luxury brands.
“For example, this was talked about a lot when Succession was the big show everyone was watching because the characters dressed in what on the surface seemed like basic pieces, but in fact, they were extremely well-structured clothing items made from expensive fabrics by designers that were always IYKYK,” she explains.
“This is done because many stealth wealthy people want to avoid drawing attention to their money, so they purposely avoid buying bags like Louis Vuitton or Gucci and opt for other brands like Loewe or Loro Piana, which are more discreet,” she reveals. “Instead, they will also wear clothing made of higher quality materials and construction, but to the uneducated consumer looking at them, their clothing will appear to be modest and mainstream.”
2. Having an Ivy League degree
If someone has a college degree from an Ivy League school, but it’s not something they bring up a lot, it can be a subtle sign of stealth wealth that people don’t pick up on.
“You won’t hear them brag about it, but a casual mention of ‘I went to school back East’ can often signal family legacy wealth,” Willardson states. “These institutions aren’t just elite—they’re generational. The networks they provide often come with inherited privilege, and the low-key delivery is part of the culture.”
3. Accessorizing with minimalist jewelry
Just because you can afford big, bold rings and necklaces doesn’t mean you have to. At least that’s the mindset of someone who is quietly wealthy, which is why they tend to go for more dainty and understated pieces. Because of that, it can often not lead others to assume they have a lot of money.
“Subtle jewelry speaks volumes,” Willardson shares about this stealth wealth sign. “Think thin platinum bands, vintage heirlooms or a low-profile watch that costs five figures but looks like it doesn’t. It’s not that they’re against diamonds—they just don’t need to prove anything with them.”
Related: Here’s Exactly What Your Month’s Birthstone Says About Your Personality
4. Driving an old (but well-maintained) vehicle
“This is classic stealth wealth, and many very wealthy people who want to avoid attention will do this to avoid drawing attention to [themselves], especially when they are out and about in their community,” Rebell tells Parade.
Willardson shares, “Stealth-wealthy people don’t chase upgrades. They value reliability, comfort and not attracting the wrong kind of attention. If the car’s paid off and the maintenance is handled, the vibe is: ‘I could, but I don’t need to.’”
Carbonaro tells Parade that this is something quietly wealthy people do a lot.
“I have a client who has over 30 million dollars and drives a Honda,” she opens up. “I once asked him why, and he said, ‘I don’t want anyone to know I have money.’”
5. Being fluent in multiple languages
Not everyone you meet speaks more than one language, which is why this can be a subtle, often missed sign that can reveal that someone is quietly wealthy.
“Language is a strong (and often overlooked) wealth indicator,” Willardson explains. “It usually points to international education, global travel or a multicultural upbringing—all of which require time and money. If someone switches seamlessly from English to French or Italian, they’ve likely seen the world in a way most people haven’t. Some friends of mine have their middle school kids attending boarding school in Switzerland, and their foreign language skills are very impressive.”
6. Vacationing often—but not staying in flashy resorts
Everyone seems to be on a European vacation this summer, but some people are traveling all the time. But notice, do they stay in the most lavish resorts? Or keep it more low-key.
“This can be a subtle sign of stealth wealth because a person may own homes around the world and therefore not need to pay for a hotel,” Rebell emphasizes. “They may be able to afford the staff to maintain those homes as well, and also to work from them when they are vacationing in the homes or villas. If they are renting the home, that is often more expensive and more private than staying in a luxury hotel.”
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7. Having exceptional manners and confidence
Anyone can be polite (and they should), but if someone has superb etiquette along with something else on this list, it could mean they’re secretly rich.
“Manners cost nothing, but they often point to someone raised in circles where grace and etiquette are expected,” Willardson says. “Pair that with quiet confidence: no overcompensating, no name-dropping and it’s a subtle sign they’ve been operating in elite spaces for a long time.”
Related: Asking These 5 Questions Will Instantly Make You Sound Classy, According to an Etiquette Expert
8. Not having a big social media presence
“Not being very active on social media can be a subtle sign of stealth wealth because it shows they don’t want people to know about their personal life,” Carbonaro notes.
Rebell agrees.
“People who want to keep their true net worth under wraps will work hard to actively avoid shining any spotlight on their life that would expose their wealth,” she says. “They want to attract others to themselves as individuals and people, and want to avoid connecting with others who might be interested in their financial resources.”
That doesn’t mean they are against social media, though; they just go about it differently.
“If they’re online at all, it’s usually private, minimal and deliberate,” Willardson mentions. “They’re not posting daily wins or lifestyle content. Their life is rich enough without a digital audience.”
9. Living in modest homes in extremely desirable areas
While some people who have money like to show it off by having a large and luxurious house, you won’t watch a stealth wealth individual doing that.
“Sometimes people just want to live in a home that fits their needs, rather than being the most [expensive] home they can afford,” Rebell says. “A more modest home also has lower carrying costs in terms of taxes and maintenance that can give people a sense of security.”
Willardson agrees, saying that they’re “not after square footage,” but rather “they’re after comfort and lifestyle.”
“Great schools, walkable neighborhoods, ocean views. The wealth isn’t in what you see, it’s in what you’d never guess they paid for,” he explains. “For instance, the house might look unassuming, but it’s sitting on a $6 million lot in Montecito.”
