Would you date a guy who smells like Patrick Bateman?
+ the domestic help is making more than you, and holding space for straight people.
Good morning everyone. I got invited to see the newly renovated Frick Collection earlier this week, and while speaking with the employees there, I learned they’ll be open late on Friday nights. Good arts and culture activity to add to your spring plans if you’re tired of trying to get a table at Torrisi.
The library upstairs is also open to the public, and has outlets to charge your laptop.
Today’s letter includes: my favorite website that I’m sure has an audience size of seven rich people a day, a prediction that women will start wearing black ties to black tie weddings, a college course that teaches us how to learn about the inner lives of straight people, and who’s replacing Sartiano’s in the Hamptons.
Guest Lecture:
Guest Lecture is a Feed Me series that captures the spirit of that (sometimes unhinged) guest lecturer who would come into your class on a Friday, drops more knowledge than you’ve heard all year, and then leaves forever. For our next Guest Lecture, we’ll be talking to Rachel Karten, social media consultant and the writer of
on Substack.Paid readers can ask her anything — I suggest getting some advice on how not to DM people you want to work with, and getting her hot takes on recent brand social campaigns.
📱Send me fun neighborhood news and tips. The Feed Me Tip Hotline is open for (anonymous) texts and voicemails: (646) 494-3916 📱
The New Yorker published a story this morning about the increased demand for staffing in the homes of ultra-high-net-worth Americans. Stories like this make me wish I had a few days off, and a fresh Google doc to return to my horror short fiction roots.
You can imagine what the story outlines: teachers quit their jobs to make more money as nannies, the wealth gap is widening in America, Aspen and Montana are becoming the new Palm Beach.
I pulled out a few more surprising stats:
There has been a 93% increase in millionaire residents between 2013 and 2023 in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.
An estimated 65 billionaires now have homes in Palm Beach County.
In 2023, the number of Americans earning $30mm or more rose by 13%, reaching nearly 148,000 people.
In 2024, the top 10% of earners (>$250K/year) accounted for almost 50% of U.S. consumer spending.
Some nannies are making around $150k/year, plus a spending bonus and stipend.
Some directors of estates managing ultra-wealthy households earn $300k–$500k/year.
The Breakers (a Palm Beach members’ club) raised its initiation fee post-COVID from $300,000 to $500,000+.
At least 100 asset management firms (including Goldman Sachs and Citadel) have opened Palm Beach offices since 2020. Agencies now scrutinize candidates’ social media for political content and test for discretion in interviews.
All of this brings me to an opportunity to share one of my favorite websites on the internet with all of you.