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You've always suspected that the very wealthy are often the most obnoxious. Well, now there's research to back it up. A study by psychologists at UC Berkeley found that students from higher socio-economic levels were far more likely to be rude in certain social situations compared to their less-privileged peers, who typically made more of an effort to be friendly with strangers. Bloomberg columnist Matthew Lynn suggests this also may explain why CEOs and moguls tend to be "an unpleasant bunch," as he puts it:

They bully, cajole, threaten and fume. There are very few examples of them flattering or charming their way to the top. They are more likely to be shouting and raging at people, demanding the impossible, and casting old friends and colleagues aside the moment they become an inconvenience. The accumulation of wealth requires an ability to crush rivals, stamp on employees, and sweep aside all opposition. Charm doesn't come into it.

Does that mean all the people who've lost their fortunes during the financial crisis in recent months are going to suddenly become nicer people? Wouldn't that be a lovely unintended consequence!

Want to Be Rich? It's About Being Rude to People [Bloomberg]