Inheritance boom: why having rich parents may trump hard work

遗产盛宴:为何富有父母可能胜过辛勤劳动

Money Talks from The Economist

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2025-05-02

44 分钟
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What is the surest way to get rich? These days, a successful career is becoming less important than being born into wealth. In most developed countries, the value of inheritances as a share of national income has surged over the last 30 years, reaching levels not seen in almost a century. The inheritocracy is on the rise. What does it mean for the future of capitalism? Hosts: Ethan Wu and Mike Bird. Guests: Salvatore Morelli of the University of Roma Tre; Michael Eriksen of Purdue University; and Claire Sweetingham, founding director of Gray & Farrar. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.
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  • They called it India's own royal wedding.

  • Last July, over three days of ceremonies,

  • a young couple born into India's new billionaire class married in Mumbai.

  • The bride was Radhika Merchant, heiress to a pharmaceuticals empire.

  • The groom was Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, India's wealthiest businessman.

  • It was a lavish affair.

  • Guests included Hillary Clinton, the Kardashians and Mark Zuckerberg.

  • There were performances by Rihanna, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.

  • It even featured a Mediterranean cruise.

  • In total, the wedding cost more than $600 million,

  • or about half a percent of the Ambani family's net wealth.

  • I would just like to thank my mother, my father, my sister.

  • for making this event so memorable for me and Radhika.

  • We get invited, or I get invited, I should say, to the weddings frequently.

  • One person familiar with these kinds of high-class nuptials,

  • or at least the courtship leading up to them, is Claire Sweetingham.

  • But clearly our clients don't want us to say who we are.

  • Would you mind saying that you're sort of a second cousin once removed?

  • Claire runs Grey & Farrar, an international matchmaking agency.

  • As far as we know, she had no hand in bringing the Ambani couple together.