Rich and Famous? New Study Looks at American Fascination With Celebrity Wealth

March 14 21:48 2024
Rich and Famous? New Study Looks at American Fascination With Celebrity Wealth

GetSure.org, a leading online life insurance agency
GetSure crunched Google Trends data for the phrase “net worth” on a state-by-state basis for all searches made in 2023.

Greenbrae, CA – Bill Gates is synonymous with being wealthy, and Jeff Bezos is the poster boy of capitalism. They’re famous because they’re rich.

But what about the many others we celebrate on our magazine covers? They’re clearly famous, but rich too? That would take some research.

If you’re wondering who’s worth the extra effort, that’s exactly what GetSure.org, a leading online life insurance agency, explored in a new study. GetSure crunched Google Trends data for the phrase “net worth” on a state-by-state basis for all searches made in 2023.

The Big Picture

Rikin Shah, Founder & CEO of GetSure, explains why this search is so popular among Americans:

“Net worth is more than just a number; it’s a reflection of impact. This search behavior is the public’s way of saying, ‘We see you making headlines, but let’s see how successful you really are.”

First up, the national leaderboard. When we added up all of the searches across all 50 states, the 15 celebrities below had the most-searched net worths in 2023.

If you’re surprised to see Travis Kelce at number two or Michael Jordan in the top five, you’re not alone. Rahul Jat, Head of Data Science at GetSure, explains how we ultimately made sense of this:

“The data suggests that net worth curiosity is about narrative. Take Michael Jordan; he retired more than 25 years ago and hasn’t done much newsworthy since. But he was such an icon, such a dominant force in American sports that he’s still on the tip of every sports commentator’s tongue. And that keeps him at he tip of Americans’ fingers.”

The Power of Taylor Swift

Given her widespread popularity and her loyal army of Swifties, seeing Taylor Swift in the top 10 wouldn’t be surprising.

She might even top the list in her home state and young states like Utah (which has an average age of just 31.9 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau).

But number one, by far, in every state?

While this floored us, it wasn’t until we sized up the second-place race that we fully comprehended the influence of this pop star. She took an athlete who was far from a household name, and made people all over the U.S. search his name in greater numbers than they did Elon Musk, Michael Jordan, and a former president combined.

Honorable Mentions

Before we close, we wanted to acknowledge some honorable mentions, by domain of fame:

Sports: After Mr. Swift, Michael Jordan was the professional athlete, current or former, who appeared most frequently in net worth searches

Entertainment: Music and entertainment moguls such as Beyoncé, Kanye West (also known as Ye), and Drake were commonly searched in numerous states, indicative of their prevalent influence in popular culture.

Business: Warren Buffett, the renowned investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, also topped the charts in several states, signifying an enduring fascination with business leaders and their success stories.

Digital: The inclusion of internet personality and philanthropist MrBeast in these searches points to a newer generation of celebrities gaining financial recognition on par with more traditional stars.

Politics: A Former President’s net worth remained a topic of considerable interest, showcasing the intersection of wealth, politics, and public intrigue.

For additional data, analyses, and commentary, please visit GetSure’s study: https://getsure.org/net-worth-search-study/

Contact:

Martha Shah
Media Relations
GetSure Insurance Agency
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (775) GET-SURE

About GetSure

GetSure.org is an online life insurance agency that offers term and whole life insurance policies to Americans 0 to 90 years old through a 100% online process. GetSure has partnered with 19 A-rated life insurance companies and is licensed in all 50 states (+ D.C.). The Company holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Media Contact
Company Name: Getsure.org
Contact Person: Martha Shah
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City: Greenbrae
State: California
Country: United States
Website: https://getsure.org