02/02/2026
Rich Parent & Down to Earth Parent!
Inheritocracy is what happens when the starting line is silently moved forward for some kids and not others.
Eliza Filby’s work on the “Bank of Mum and Dad” shows how parents now quietly subsidise everything from rent to house deposits, unpaid internships, even childcare – creating a whole hidden support system that supercharges some young adults’ chances while others grind alone.
What’s wild is how invisible this can be to the people benefitting. You see stories of 25‑year‑olds who “made it on their own” in London or New York… then later admit their parents covered rent for three years.
Or content creators insisting “just work hard and travel” while flying business class on family miles and staying in a fully paid‑off family apartment. They’re not always lying – they genuinely don’t see how much cushioning they had.
That’s the quiet power of inheritocracy: it dresses up parental money as personal hustle.
Two people can have the same talent, discipline and hours worked – but one has a family safety net that turns every risk into a calculated bet, and the other is one emergency away from disaster.
When you look at this table, ask: which column did you grow up in, and how has that shaped what you think is “normal”?
