> by getting rich by doing nothing while lauding how smart you are over other people
This is exactly how I envision the dream of old world wealth you see on Downton Abbey or similar.
Get born into a minor lordship somewhere in England and spend your days educating yourself (maybe leisurely publishing a book or two) and raking in tax revenue from the commoners.
"This is exactly how I envision the dream of old world wealth you see on Downton Abbey or similar."
Then you misunderstand ...
That world you're envisioning is what happens after the "getting rich".
In the case of feudalism - and its remnants - the "getting rich" involved murderous expropriation of the lands and property of anyone that got in the way by sociopaths who hoarded and coveted everything that entered their awareness.
This is exactly how I envision the dream of old world wealth you see on Downton Abbey or similar.
Get born into a minor lordship somewhere in England and spend your days educating yourself (maybe leisurely publishing a book or two) and raking in tax revenue from the commoners.