World at their Feet

There’s an old Irish saying, “If you want to know what God thinks about money, just look at the people He gives it to.” So who does God give money to? And what do their children do with it? Tyler Branaman sits down with some of the privileged few.

Although it is considered crude to talk about money in polite society, there’s something about children of wealth that fascinates us, even when they don’t do much of anything. The image of youth coupled with so much money that they will probably not have to work a single day in their adult life conjures up glamor, as well as more than a bit of jealousy.

And society is hardly ever kind to them. When almost 45 percent of your countrymen are deemed poor by international standards (2006 World Bank data), the judgment is even harsher.The unspoken rule is: when you have money, you lose the right to complain.

When I started this article, roughly half of my friends expected the kids I interviewed to be obnoxious brats with pocket money and toys that would make a grown man weep. To their disappointment, the kids were genial and polite during the interview, with some more articulate than others.

Here’s what they have to say on life, money and how to spot a gold digger.

The five:

Andi Sutopo (A): 22, university student

Frangky Japri (FJ): 21, university student

Subhan Aksa (SA): 21., awaiting graduation from a university in England

Satlia Jelita (SJ): 19, university student

Saprita Tahir (ST): 18, just graduated from a leading Islamic high school.

Q: What do you think your parents’ expectations and hopes are for you?

A:  To earn my degree and get a job, a future. They don’t have any preference on the degree to start with; they haven’t asked that much out of me, really.

FJ: They want me to live righteously. No drugs. They also expect success from me, to be able to earn more than them. Not necessarily by running their business, but more to owning my own business.

SA: My dad wants his kids to be part of the family business. I’m barely out of university but I’m already expected to help out. After earning my degree, I will have to work and then go to graduate school. Maybe I’ll work at my dad’s car dealership because that’s where my interest lies.

SJ: To be a good kid, not hang with the wrong crowd, not be a brat.

ST: My parents’ wish is that I’ll achieve whatever I hope for. Right now I’m interested in going to law school, so they hope I’ll get into the best one. Eventually I want to work for the government, get into politics.

Q: What are your plans for the next 5 years?

A:  Graduate from university, open my own advertising agency.

FJ: Open my own business, maybe not much different from the family business [Frangky’s father owns a plant manufacturing construction tools, ed]. I originally wanted to open a garage, but we don’t really have the network for that. So realistically speaking, something in construction makes more sense.

SA:  I want to race on the world circuit for a year, then take my master’s at either NYU or Columbia. After that I’ll work for dad.

SJ: I want to get married.

ST: Graduate from university, work for the government for two years, then take my master’s degree in the Netherlands.

Q: For you, what is the country’s biggest problem right now?

A: The economy. And I wish there was no more racism in this country.

FJ:  KKN (corruption, collusion and nepotism).

SA: Corruption. I had to pay a lot of unauthorized fees for shipping a car from one area to another.

SJ: Too many lazy people. They don’t want to work hard yet they want money. This, I think, is what leads people to commit corruption.

ST: Poverty, corruption, low-quality education.

Q: Complete this sentence: Life is nothing if…

A:  … you have regrets. We live by our choices, there’s no point in regretting them.

FJ: …you spend your money away. Why bother earning money when you’re going to throw it away?

SA: … you don’t spend your time wisely. We can do so many things in life, why sit around?

SJ: … you’re alone. It would be utterly boring.

ST: …you don’t put any effort into it, we don’t help each other and are not close to God.

Q: What is your take on the relationship between life and money?

A: Money can be everything and yet nothing. Without it, life is a mess, yet on the other hand, you don’t need money to have friends or to be nice.

FJ: There are a lot of things that can’t be bought. Money is just for basic stuff like food and having fun.

SA: We need money to afford to live.

SJ: You can’t live without it these days.|

ST: No one can live without money. Everything requires money: food, lodging …

Q: Have you ever been uncomfortable with your wealth?

A:  No.

FJ: No

SA:  Yes. When I was younger [Subhan went to elementary and junior high school in Makassar, South Sulawesi, ed.] there was a wealth gap at school, so it made me uneasy.

SJ: No.

ST: No. When I’m older, though, I want to have more than what I have right now.

Q: What’s the down side of being rich?

A: You can practically buy everything with money nowadays. The men are prone to become playboys, and they spend money on things that won’t work out anyway. Like motocross clubs.

FJ: People can be jealous. They just like to think bad things.

SA: The rich-poor gap really makes it uncomfortable. And being thought of as a spoiled kid living without a single care in the world.

SJ: People can sometimes brush me off. I once had a boyfriend who wasn’t as well-off as me, and he would verbally abuse me. “You wouldn’t know how I feel, you’re spoiled and live a comfortable life!”

ST: Hangers on, being considered arrogant. A slight verbal slip and the damage is done. Oh, and when you have money you can’t control your shopping!

Q: What’s the most expensive product or service you’ve ever bought?

A:  My current mobile phone, I’ve only had it for four months now.

FJ: My BMW 325, a graduation present from my parents, which I customized with my own money.

SA:  My race car, a Mitsubishi EVO XIII. We bought it here two years ago, but had it customized in New Zealand and shipped back. It’s actually a good investment, because I can resell it if I have to.

SJ: A Honda car for my 17^th birthday.

ST: My cancer treatment. When I was nine months old, I was diagnosed with leukemia, so I stayed for four months in Amsterdam for the treatment and continued it here in Jakarta. That must’ve cost a fortune.

Q: What have you done that most of your peers haven’t?

A:  I once ate 14 packs of instant noodles on a bet!

FJ: I can go clubbing at expensive places, like X2 or X Lounge.

SA:  I’ve been racing cars since I was still in junior high school. At first, my dad was reluctant to let me race because of the dangers associated with it. But he eventually caved in after he saw that I had potential. Last year I participated in the Asia Pacific region (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Indonesia), on sponsors’ and my own money. This year I’ll make do with the local circuit, because I had to do my final exams. My dad insists that I finish my studies if I want to keep racing. But next year I want to do the world circuit, Europe, the U.S.… I want to be a professional racer, but I don’t know. We’ll see. But most likely I have to sacrifice this dream and be part of the family business.

SJ: Go on a manic shopping spree, especially when I don’t feel too good. 

ST: When I was in my last year in junior high school, I was an indie band manager. The band members were much older than I was. I’ve always liked to socialize, so I guess I had a wider variety of friends than my peers, and I knew how to talk in front of people.

Q: Ben Affleck’s character in the movie Boiler Room said, “The people who say money is the root of all evil, don’t have any.” Agree or disagree?

A: Agree. People can be jealous.

FJ: Agree. People who don’t have money can be different, negative. Maybe because they’re jealous.

SA: Not really. Money is not the root of ALL evil.

SJ: Agree. You can use money for good things, so if people think bad things about it, maybe they just want it badly.

ST: Sort of. But money can be used for a lot of good things, like education.

Q: What’s the most inaccurate stereotype about rich people you’ve ever heard?

A: That the rich live a relaxed and charmed life. The rich work hard to earn their wealth.

FJ: Rich people are conceited. Not all of them are.

SA: Rich people are tight with their money. Some actually give alms.

SJ: That rich people can’t do anything, can’t get dirty, can’t ride a bus, etc.

ST: The rich are arrogant and can’t stop spending their money. We do save some money. People are falsely accused of being arrogant when they are simply recounting stuff in their daily lives without having the intention to boast.

Q: Describe your typical Saturday night.

A: Watch a midnight show with friends. I go clubbing on weekdays only, less crowded.

FJ: Go to the movies or clubbing with members from a car club.

SA: Just dinner and hang out with friends. Ideally, I’d love to spend my Saturday nights like when I was still in Makassar; go to a peaceful island.

SJ: Dinner and a movie. But I have to be home by 10:30 p.m. That’s the way it is: my parents give me everything I need, but I have to follow their rules.

ST: Watch DVDs at home or go to a friend’s house. If there’s a music event, then I’ll go there.

Q: How much money do you get a month and how do you spend it?

A: More than Rp 1 million. I use it for school projects, hanging out with friends and half of my mobile bill. There is nothing left.

FJ: Less than Rp 3 million, for hanging out and food. Sometimes I can still save some. My parents pay my mobile bill.

SA: Leftovers from my London account. I spend it on food, gas, hanging out. My parents pay my mobile bills but up to a certain sum. If I exceed the sum, they take away my mobiles.

SJ: More than Rp 5 million, but I sometimes have to ask for more. I use it for clothes shopping, hanging out, paying my mobile bills.

ST: More than Rp 1 million for food, magazines, movies, girl stuff like facial cleanser.

Q: If you were given Rp 1 billion tomorrow, what would you do with it?

A: Customize my car and save the rest.

F: Start a business. I’d ask my dad to help out in the beginning.

SA: Put it all in the bank.

SJ: Buy a house, travel to Dubai. I love the scenery and the shopping there!

ST: Open a school or library, make reading a lifestyle. I am afraid that it won’t work out, though.

Q: Would you date or marry someone less financially well off than you?

A:  Yes. Just as long as she’s kind and we get along fine, it’s OK.

FJ: No problem if she’s kind.

SA:  Yes. I won’t marry for money.

SJ: Not a problem, if he’s willing to work or has a job when we’re married.

ST: No. I used to think it wasn’t a problem, but I don’t think my parents want it for me. They want the best for me. Anyway, it’s hard to live in Jakarta with limited funds.

Q: Can you spot a gold digger?

A: Yes. Always asking to buy things for them.

FJ: No.

SA: Yes. They just keep mentioning the same things in the hope I’ll buy it for them.

SJ: Yes. You can also tell from their families. They just like to use you.

ST: Yes, when they start asking the type of cars I own or how big my house is even though we have just been introduced. They also ask for things.

Q: If you could only choose one thing, which would it be: wealth, brains or good looks?

All answered brains, except for Satlia who answered, “Rich. Because being smart or good looking cannot guarantee you anything.”

Q: What’s your solution for minimizing poverty in Indonesia?

A: Free education from elementary school to high school.

F: The government should rid itself of KKN, so the money can actually trickle down to the masses. And more jobs, please.

SA: More jobs through government intervention. For example, invite foreign investment by advertising that we have cheap labor.

SJ: Just stop being lazy.

ST: Improve the quality of education through a better Education Ministry and teachers. A lot of the teachers in rural areas are not that educated.

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