Crazy Rich Asians isn’t just a fictional rom-com—it’s a real economic spectacle wrapped in designer fabric. It pulls back the velvet curtain on a world where private jets replace Uber, wedding budgets rival national GDPs, and wealth isn’t just about having money, but about having the right kind of money. Behind the glitz and glamour, the film is a sharp commentary on class divides, generational affluence, and the invisible economic barriers that separate the ultra-rich from, well, everyone else.

Nick Young’s family represents old money—wealth that has been hoarded and refined over generations, protected by exclusive social circles and time-honored investments. Peik Lin’s family, on the other hand, is new money—loud, flashy, and eager to prove themselves. This reflects a global economic reality: while self-made billionaires are on the rise, the true elite remains dominated by families who have spent centuries consolidating their power. Singapore, where the film is set, is a perfect microcosm of exclusive wealth, with its staggering GDP per capita and low taxes creating a haven for the ultra-wealthy, while the working class struggles with rising costs. Rachel, despite her success, is treated as an outsider—not because she lacks money, but because she lacks the lineage and connections that money alone can’t buy.

Crazy Rich Asians isn’t just about wealth—it’s about the systems that sustain it. It reveals that even in a world obsessed with meritocracy, deep-rooted privilege still dictates who gets a seat at the table. Because in the end, having millions might get you into the party, but it won’t necessarily make you one of them. 

References:

"Crazy Rich Asians." Directed by Jon M. Chu, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2018.