Eye-spy wealth: cultural capital and ‘knowing luxury’ in the identification of and engagement with the superrich

Abstract

Drawing upon a wider ethnographic study of superrich lifestyle mobilities, I reflect upon my experiences of working as an assistant within a yacht brokerage during a superyacht sales show in West Palm Beach, Florida. Specifically, I examine the role of dress and appearance in guiding (and at times misguiding) my identification of potential superrich clients during the yacht show. In turn I outline the four-step process utilized by yacht brokers both to qualify the wealth status of a potential client and to successfully engage with legitimate clients. In doing so, I reflect upon some of the constraints of conducting an empirical study of the superrich, including the need to demonstrate sufficient cultural capital of luxury leisure practices and material goods.

Keywords:

• superrich
• superyacht
• dress
• cultural capital
• yacht show
• luxury

Acknowledgements

This paper is supported by an ESRC 1+3 PhD Studentship. I wish to thank the anonymous reviewers for their insightful recommendations on a previous draft of this paper, and to the guest editor for their encouraging feedback and inclusion within this special issue. Thanks also go to PT and the brokerage for their insight, support, and participation during this project.

Notes on contributor

Emma Spence is a doctoral student in the School of Planning and Geography at the University of Cardiff, Wales. Her research explores superrich lifestyle mobilities, with particular focus upon the luxury superyacht industry.