Calling out celebrities and billionaires
If you work for a celebrity or billionaire, then standing up to them isn't easy, especially if they regularly cross the line and behave immorally. As a former personal assistant to high-net-worth families, royalty and billionaires, I was sometimes faced with having to call them out for bad behavior.
As a personal assistant to the affluent, this is a slippery slope because it can severely impact your career in the private service industry. If you've been hired as a personal assistant or house manager to an UHNW family, then you have to keep a stiff upper lip and you can't tell them off or you will be fired.
As a personal assistant to the affluent, this is a slippery slope because it can severely impact your career in the private service industry. If you've been hired as a personal assistant or house manager to an UHNW family, then you have to keep a stiff upper lip and you can't tell them off or you will be fired.
Why is it so difficult to stand up to the super-rich and celebrities?
Domestic staff in the private service industry don't really have the same protections that employees do in corporate America. On paper, theoretically speaking, private staff are supposed to be protected by law; but in reality, they are not. In a corporate office, for example, there are 800 numbers to be able to report bad behavior, and employees are protected by whistleblower laws. In private service, all bets are off.
Challenging the affluent and putting them in their place has even played out in Hollywood movies:
Wall Street
In the movie Wall Street, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) has a scene with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) at the end. Fox stood up to Gekko by telling him off. This movie, actually, was inspired by real events.
All the Money in the World
Also based on real events, the movie All the Money in the World is based on the life of J. Paul Getty, who was the richest man on earth in his day. The billionaire fixer, Fletcher Chance (Mark Wahlberg), who works for Getty (Christopher Plummer), also has a scene where they have a blow out. Chance stands up to the billionaire and tells him off.
Challenging the affluent and putting them in their place has even played out in Hollywood movies:
Wall Street
In the movie Wall Street, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) has a scene with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) at the end. Fox stood up to Gekko by telling him off. This movie, actually, was inspired by real events.
All the Money in the World
Also based on real events, the movie All the Money in the World is based on the life of J. Paul Getty, who was the richest man on earth in his day. The billionaire fixer, Fletcher Chance (Mark Wahlberg), who works for Getty (Christopher Plummer), also has a scene where they have a blow out. Chance stands up to the billionaire and tells him off.
The last word on working for celebrities and billionaires
If you get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for the rich and famous, be cautious. It might be one of those "be careful what you wish for" situations. Don't be too impressed with the fame and money. Most of the high-profile personalities that we have come to know and love are quite different in their private lives.
Be sure to do a great deal of research on the individual that you are going to work for. If you uncover some red flags along the way, it might be a sign that you should pass on the opportunity. Finally, if you are someone who just can't keep your mouth shut when you see something wrong, then working for the super-rich is probably not for you. If you are someone who will stand up to people and put them in their places when they behave badly, then working in private service just isn't the right industry for you.
Be sure to do a great deal of research on the individual that you are going to work for. If you uncover some red flags along the way, it might be a sign that you should pass on the opportunity. Finally, if you are someone who just can't keep your mouth shut when you see something wrong, then working for the super-rich is probably not for you. If you are someone who will stand up to people and put them in their places when they behave badly, then working in private service just isn't the right industry for you.
