>>>Would I be happier if I was much richer? I don't think so. I'd have to hire a bunch of thugs - a legal thug, an accountant, perhaps some thug thugs as security, befriend some politicians, exactly the kind of people I'm not happy to be in the same room with. And I would probably be forced to change my lifestyle, which is a no-go. I've worked hard to get to this point, why would I throw it all away just to make all the good things in my life inaccessible again? I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid.
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>>but here I'd say the argument smells of sour grapes: pretty certain that up to three times no thugs are needed and accounting/tax prep cost hike would be no problem - assuming one of your programs sells to a larger audience than previously calculated. Change in lifestyle still up to you - I still drive a car I bought used (with an engine housing some additional horses for irrational fun factor), having more motor bikes would not hike the #km ridden more than 5%.
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>Up to a certain level, the lifestyle is up to you, but then you begin attracting attention, and that's what I just wouldn't like. Which is exactly why I'd prefer that my neighbors get more.

Not in the bracket between 10**6 and 10**7 net worth. Only met one individual of >10**9, but spent some time with a few families >10**7 net worth (in translated buying power to DM back then, numbers in current $) and while some had help also able to defend, it was well integrated into nearly normal life. The risk is/was less correlated with net worth but function of job (remember RAF in germany ?)