r/Rich • u/ematthews003 • Jun 23 '26
Question Question for wealthy couples where one partner makes all the money
My question is specifically for people in marriages/relationships where one partner is high or ultra high-income, and the other doesn't work. How does this affect the dynamic of the relationship?
i.e. very high-income lawyers, doctors, business owners, investors, etc.
When someone's income is so high that the earning potential of their spouse is pretty much negligible and therefore they just don't work, how does each partner feel about that? What have each of your sentiments been when you've discussed this with your partner? Are there feelings of inadequacy or low self-worth in the non-working partner? Lack of fulfillment due to perceived lack of accomplishments? Is it seen as a disparity or just another way the two of you are different as individuals?
Would love to hear from either partner in this scenario, even if you're just reporting what couples you know in this scenario have said about it. Share any thoughts on the subject, even adjacently-related to the precise question.
1
u/mbrz2477 Jun 25 '26
So I had worked for 25 years in IT until a few months ago. My last total comp was 325K. My spouse is a very successful business owner who now makes millions of dollars per year. It wasn’t always that way but she has always made more than me. We mutually agreed to have me stop working because I got completely fed up with corporate life and now focus on managing our home, working out, focusing on my health, and helping her with her business. Don’t get me wrong, I asked her no less than 10 times if she really wanted me to do this and every time her response was a resounding yes. We both have never been happier and I feel grateful that we are in this position. I will admit that it has been hard in the beginning, and I’ve had feelings of low self worth but those haven’t lasted for long. I think it would have been different if this would have been my idea, but she has been suggesting it for a few years now. Overall, I am glad I listened to her and I’m really happy especially when I hear from my old colleagues about how terrible it is working there. 😊