Couture and chaos: Why do audiences love shows based on the ultra-rich?

From diamond-studded soirées to emotionally messy boardroom battles, dramas about the ultra-rich are having a major cultural moment. Shows like ‘Class’, ‘Kull’, and ‘Made in Heaven’ are more than just visual feasts, they’re immersive stories that pull back the curtain on wealth, privilege, and the cracks beneath the polish. But why are we, the everyday viewers, so addicted to watching the elite unravel?

The allure of glamour and chaos

Luxury TV dramas offer a potent cocktail of escapism and schadenfreude. On the surface, we’re drawn to the glittering lifestyles, designer fashion, and exotic locations. But it’s the underlying dysfunction, the betrayals, scandals, and power struggles, that hooks us. These characters might live in palatial homes, but their lives are far from perfect.

We watch them implode at charity galas or cry in couture, and there’s a strange satisfaction in that. It’s not just envy, it’s relief. Their pain makes our problems feel more human, more grounded. And when someone with everything still can’t keep their life together, it almost feels comforting.

Escapism with a twist

Binge-worthy dramas about the rich let us step into a world we’ll likely never inhabit. But unlike traditional escapism, these shows blend fantasy with emotional realism. We might never wear a custom Dior gown or attend an elite wedding in Rajasthan, but we understand heartbreak, insecurity, and the need for validation.

This emotional accessibility cloaked in luxury is what makes these shows so addictive. They let us fantasize without fully disconnecting; a high-gloss reflection of struggles we all relate to, just set in a more lavish context.

Schadenfreude in high definition

There’s no denying the pleasure audiences get from watching the powerful fall. Seeing the rich face consequences, a public scandal, a family betrayal, or business failure satisfies a deep-seated desire for justice or balance. It’s not pure envy, but a fascination with how power corrupts and complicates.

In an age where wealth inequality is more visible than ever, seeing elite characters face personal crises feels almost cathartic. These stories give us the illusion of accountability in a world where the rich often escape it.

The rise of the guilty pleasure genre

With the internet amplifying discussions around luxury, class, and privilege, shows focused on the ultra-wealthy are becoming a new kind of guilty pleasure. Social media thrives on dissecting the highs and lows of these characters, fueling debates and memes that keep the genre alive beyond the screen.

Streaming platforms are capitalizing on this trend, greenlighting more content that explores the darker side of wealth because audiences can’t seem to get enough of it.

What our fascination says about us

Ultimately, our obsession with rich people's problems is less about the money and more about the mess. We’re drawn to the emotional truths beneath the sparkle, the loneliness, ambition, and moral dilemmas that make these stories feel real.

These shows remind us that no amount of wealth can buy immunity from life’s complexities. And in watching their chaos, we find a strange kind of clarity and maybe even comfort in our own imperfect lives.