'People excuse bad behavior in exchange for money': Madison Van Doren exposes 'old money' culture as she highlights flaws of privileged upbringing
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Madison Van Doren, a woman who became an online sensation by candidly disclosing the secrets of the extremely wealthy, has shared further insights into the world of affluence and status. She had previously fascinated TikTok users by revealing the peculiar money and reputation rules instilled in her since childhood.
In a recent interview with Daily Mail, she discussed her upbringing and how "wealth does strange things to people." At 26 years old, the influencer stated her desire to reveal the problematic aspects of the culture surrounding wealth, adding that she "can't understand people aspiring to be a part of [it]."
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Who is Madison Van Doren?
Madison Van Doren was born in Massachusetts, USA, and comes from a family with a long history in the United States dating back to the 1600s. "I come from a long line of successful people and I'm proud of that. They helped build this incredible country and I'm honored to share their name," she said. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she spent her childhood traveling back and forth between her mother's home in Colorado and her father's home in London. At the age of 10, she secured an academic scholarship to attend the same English boarding school as her mother.
Madison's videos have garnered millions of views and have sparked a larger conversation about the culture of wealth and privilege. She has been featured in numerous media outlets and has been invited to speak at conferences and events. Despite her newfound fame, Madison remains committed to her message and continues to use her platform to shed light on issues related to wealth and social status.
"Growing up, we never talked about money. Everything I know about my family's status I pieced together on my own over the years. If we were rich, I didn't know about it. That's the funny thing about 'old money', the older the family, the more time you have to lose it. In a culture that deems it rude to discuss finances, it's impossible to know. When I was a kid, our friends, and neighbors had so much more than us that I honestly thought we were poor... We could have pennies or millions and I would have no idea."
"Sure, I flew first class on occasion, but my roommates flew private. I skied in Vail but they skied in Gstaad. It wasn't until college that I realized not everyone can afford to ski," she said. "A common misconception about wealth in this country is that it's black and white. People act like you're either poor or have a trust fund. That's just not the case. The difference between a millionaire and a billionaire is far greater than the gap between minimum wage and a six-figure salary. My family fell somewhere in between. We weren't low income and we weren't 'never work again' rich."
'I was trained to be a good wife to a powerful man'
Madison has amassed a devoted following on Instagram and TikTok by sharing her unfiltered perspectives but acknowledges that it's a far cry from the environment in which she was raised. "I was raised in a very private culture. The work I do now is the antithesis of how I was raised. Social media and public engagement of any kind were frowned upon. Even within the family, we rarely talk about 'unpleasant' things. Manners and decorum were paramount. I attended cotillion, I learned to waltz, to set a table. In retrospect, I was trained to be a good wife to a powerful man. But I saw firsthand the dangers of depending on men for money. I swore that would never be me. I've been financially independent since college and fought to build a successful career for myself. I work hard every day to create a life I can be proud of and hope to someday share that with a family of my own."
When asked about her motivation for creating the now infamous videos, she said, "I was inspired to make my videos after seeing the blatantly false information that was trending around 'old money' on TikTok. I wanted to point out the absurdity of idolizing the wealthy, and unfortunately, many of my viewers have misunderstood that. People treated my videos as instructional and aspirational which is the opposite of what I wanted. I love my family and where I came from. But I can't understand people aspiring to be a part of my culture any more than it makes sense to dream of being born Chinese. We have no control over the family we're born into."
'People excuse bad behavior in exchange for money'
Madison concluded, "Wealth does strange things to people. I've known people in their 20s who can't use a dishwasher. I've met middle-aged adults who threw tantrums worse than most toddlers. Too many women allow themselves to be bought by wealthy men who treat them poorly. People excuse bad behavior in exchange for money and financial security. It's not aspirational. It's a flawed culture with pros and cons like any other. Seeing it misrepresented online inspired me to share my own experiences."