Lot of conflicting opinions on this in this site. Found this recently and it seemed relevant. If you got a few minutes go ahead and scroll through. Then with a strait face tell me why its justified.
Wealth, shown to scale
When making such comparisons, clearly you do not know much about how money works. Maybe, I can help you understand a bit.
First is a question: Is the money Bezos has all in cash?? You seem to look at it that way.
I'm sure Mr.Bezos has a bit of cash, however the bulk has to be tied up in amazon stock. From the start Bezos got amazon off the ground through much hard work. This wasn't sit back and it made itself.
Next is a lesson in stocks. It takes lots of money to get important businesses off the ground. Even your crucial utilities required large amounts of capital investment from people with money willing to take a chance.
There is no faster way to acquire great wealth than to start and grow a company. New investors want to get in on the growth and invest causing that stock price to climb.
Great wealth will grow with the stock price, however if the business is not kept up with, one can loose great wealth rather quickly. You see, it's not as easy as you see.
The wealth effect: Stocks create a great wealth effect for all. It creates money on paper that does not really exist. This wealth effect helps everyone, even the working people of the world. Example: Amazon quote for today $3656.64. Everyone that owns amazon think they have 3656.64 a share but do they really? Of course not!! If they sold it all. someone would only get a dollar.
This wealth effect is working with all stocks. The feeling people have seeing that high stock price in their portfolio makes them go out spend money which gets the economy going creating work, jobs and a living for all. That is why a recession is so bad. Reverse wealth effect can cause starvation like in the great depression.
How much economy was created from amazon? How many jobs? How much livelihood? Should we dismantle it all for equal distribution of money when that would lead to disaster?
Did you notice China, a communist country, has a stock market? How can they justify capitalism?? The wealth effect raised the standard of living for everyone in China. Economies that allow freedom have a greater standard of living than those ruled and controlled without free markets. China has learned this.
Straight communism does not work. Why work when they give you all the money and food you need? Put a rich person out there for people to see then allow the system for people to acquire more for themselves and you will have people not only working but thriving.
Get rid of all the rich people??? Not on your life!! Teach others how to get richer for themselves!!!
On the other hand, there is much that needs to be done in this world. It would be nice if the rich would take it upon themselves to nudge everyone forward. Selling a few shares for really good causes can be done.
There are wealthy people who are doing good things to help the world. Do not discount efforts over the jealousy of how much money another has.
Whether rich or not, everyone can make the world better solving the problems. Time, effort, and willingness is all that is needed. Sometimes something as small as a kind word can change generations upon generations down the road.
The mindless obsession of having money, getting money or possessions, and being jealous over others can be a vicious circle that can lead only to pain.
It doesn't matter what everyone else is doing. It's what you choose to do that counts!!!
That's what I see. It's very clear!!