10 Filthy Rich People Who Lived Like Misers or Recluses
Despite being wildly rich, some of the wealthiest people in history have lived surprisingly frugal and meager lives. Instead of enjoying luxurious lifestyles and flaunting their wealth, they chose to live in modest conditions (or complete squalor) that baffled the public. While they had the means to afford anything they wanted, their habits of extreme stinginess made them subjects of fascination instead. Here are 10 incredibly rich people that chose to live like they were broke.
1. Hetty Green
Known as one of America’s wealthiest women of the 19th century, Hetty Green built a fortune through savvy investments in stocks and real estate. However, her extreme frugality earned her the nickname “The Witch of Wall Street.” She reportedly wore the same dress everyday (did she wash it at least?) and refused to seek medical help for her son, which led to his leg being amputated. She also lived in cheap boarding houses and scoured the streets for the lowest prices on everything.
2. Howard Hughes
A business tycoon, aerospace engineer, and film producer, Howard Hughes had immense wealth, but his later years were spent in squalor. Known for his eccentric behavior and obsessive-compulsive disorder, he would isolate himself in hotel rooms in an attempt to avoid contact with others. Eventually, Hughes’ paranoia grew to the point where he refused to cut his hair and nails. Despite being one of the richest men in America, his life of luxury turned into one of profound loneliness.
3. John Paul Getty
Despite being one of the richest men in history, oil magnate John Paul Getty was known for his extremely frugal lifestyle. For instance, he installed a payphone in his mansion for guests to use rather than allowing them to make free calls. Getty also famously refused to pay the ransom when his grandson was kidnapped, bargaining over the amount instead. He also insisted on washing and drying his own clothes to save money, despite being worth over $2 billion at the time of his death.
4. Ingvar Kamprad
As the founder of Swedish furniture giant IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad built a multi-billion-dollar empire but lived in modest simplicity. Known for always flying economy class, driving an old Volvo, and shopping at thrift stores, Kamprad’s frugality was a central part of his public image. He often cited his upbringing in Småland, Sweden for his frugality, even admitting to taking salt and pepper packets from restaurants. Kamprad died in 2018 at the age of 91.
5. Warren Buffett
Despite being one of the wealthiest investors in the world and the fifth richest man in America, Warren Buffett is known for his humble and low-key lifestyle. He still lives in the same house he bought in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1958 for $31,500, and enjoys fast food and ice cream from places like McDonald’s. Buffett also avoids luxury items like designer clothes and sports cars, and prefers to drive second-hand vehicles. Get this: The guy even uses a Nokia flip phone over a smartphone.
6. Chuck Feeney
As the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers, Chuck Feeney amassed a massive fortune but lived as though he had very little. He wore cheap clothes, carried his papers in plastic bags, and lived in rented apartments all his life. He never owned a car, either. Feeney donated the majority of his wealth (about $8 million) to charitable causes, leaving himself with next to nothing. His mission to “give while living” made him a paradox of wealth and modesty. He died at the age of 92 in 2023.
7. Daniel Ludwig
A shipping magnate and real estate tycoon, Daniel Ludwig was a billionaire who preferred to live in obscurity and anonymity. Ludwig avoided the public eye, lived in a modest apartment, and wore inexpensive, off-the-rack suits. Despite owning vast assets, including the largest merchant fleet in the world at one point, he shunned lavish lifestyles and rarely gave interviews or attended social events. Ludwig’s frugality also extended to food, as he was known to choose diners over fancy restaurants.
8. Frederik Meijer
As the founder of Meijer — one of the largest supermarket chains in the U.S. — Frederik (Fred) Meijer had a fortune to his name but was known instead for his humble demeanor. He drove an old station wagon and could frequently be spotted at his own stores, where he’d be chatting it up with employees and customers. His down-to-earth attitude and generosity earned him respect as a self-made man who never let his wealth define him. Meijer died at the age of 91 in 2011.
9. Harlan Sanders (Colonel Sanders)
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Though Colonel Sanders became a household name thanks to his Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) empire, he maintained a surprisingly modest lifestyle. After selling KFC in 1964 for $2 million, Sanders lived in a simple ranch house and continued to drive his own car. He was also known to eat at local diners rather than indulging in luxurious, high-end restaurants.
10. Big Edie and Little Edie Beale
This eccentric mother-daughter duo lived in the decaying mansion known as Grey Gardens. Once a symbol of wealth, their home became a dilapidated relic as they slipped into poverty, though they never sold the property. The pair was known for their hoarding tendencies, living among raccoons and refuse while clinging to their past glory. Despite this, they remained in the public eye through a documentary, but their lifestyle was far from the wealth and luxury they once knew.
Fun fact: Big Edie, whose real name was Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale, was the aunt of First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis.