I think you're underestimating exactly what a billion dollars gets you over a thousand by several orders of magnitude. It's not about iPhone vs. Android. It's about having enough money to never need a phone vs. being unable to afford a data plan. It's not about caviar vs. hamburgers. It's about never having to cook vs. malnutrition from not having access to fresh produce. It's not about Lamborghinis vs. Civics. It's about having a ready replacement whenever you get into a wreck vs. losing your job because your car stalled on the freeway and you were late to work.
It's not the physical goods but intangibles that makes a billionaire a million times better off than the thousand-aire. Some particular intangibles:
Time. The billionaire never has to work again for the rest of his or her life and be assured that he or she has sufficient resources to not starve to death. Not so with the thousand-aire, who is likely living paycheck to paycheck.
Freedom. If the billionaire does want to work, he or she can work on whatever he or she wants. Paris Hilton can be a singer / actress / celebrity because she wants to be that. If Paris Hilton was not a wealthy heiress, I think it's safe to say her career choices would be significantly more constrained.
Influence. The political aspects of this are somewhat obvious, but it extends to practically everything else as well. The thousand-aire says, "It sure would be nice if my team won the championship this year." The billionaire can all but guarantee it.
It's not the physical goods but intangibles that makes a billionaire a million times better off than the thousand-aire. Some particular intangibles:
Time. The billionaire never has to work again for the rest of his or her life and be assured that he or she has sufficient resources to not starve to death. Not so with the thousand-aire, who is likely living paycheck to paycheck.
Freedom. If the billionaire does want to work, he or she can work on whatever he or she wants. Paris Hilton can be a singer / actress / celebrity because she wants to be that. If Paris Hilton was not a wealthy heiress, I think it's safe to say her career choices would be significantly more constrained.
Influence. The political aspects of this are somewhat obvious, but it extends to practically everything else as well. The thousand-aire says, "It sure would be nice if my team won the championship this year." The billionaire can all but guarantee it.