Some people can't afford a home, but this infamous influencer bought a castle.

A Redditor shared a screenshot of a shocking interaction between a wealthy influencer and a user on the social platform X. Posting on the r/Anticonsumption subreddit, the original poster wrote: "This is why I truly can't stand celebrities or 'influencers'."

The photo shows an exchange on X from Tristan Tate saying: "I have run out of things to buy. Give me ideas."

One user replied, instructing Tate to purchase a "castle or manor house that needs restoring," to which Tate responded: "Done that already."

The post highlights the magnitude of the wealth gap and the cultural shift toward materialism and overconsumption. 

Around 35 million people live in poverty in the U.S., while a small percentage live in complete luxury — yachts, mansions, and supercars. Wealth is seen as the pathway to happiness, and flaunting similar material items, like designer clothing or the newest iPhone, is used to showcase status. 

Consumption has skyrocketed over the past few decades, driven by the ease of online shopping and the influence of social media. Social media sites like TikTok contribute to overconsumption with the constant promotion of fast fashion clothing hauls, unnecessary organization, Stanley cups, and more. Shopping, buying, and owning become cool and trendy, inspiring others to buy more things more often. 

More buyers result in more production, and increased production has a significant impact on the environment. The fast fashion industry alone produces 10% of the planet's carbon pollution each year, according to the Carbon Literacy Project.

Once these items meet their end — sooner than normal, as mass-produced items are often of lower quality and are worn less — they end up in landfills, where they can sit for hundreds or thousands of years. 

You can find perfectly good items — appliances, furniture, clothing, jewelry — at a discounted price by shopping at thrift stores. Not only does this save you money, but it also helps the planet by keeping items out of landfills. And when it's finally time for spring cleaning, rather than throwing items away, donate your old stuff instead.

What should the government do about the fast fashion industry? Set strict regulations 🚫 Incentivize sustainable options 💰 Use both regulations and incentives 🏛️ Nothing 🙅 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Commenters were frustrated with the egregious display of wealth.

"Here are my ideas: A homeless shelter(s), feed the poor, college scholarships, fix Flint's water, cancer/medical research," one user suggested.

"The concept of 'helping' is not in his vocabulary," another Redditor wrote. "If he applied that, he would never run out of ways to spend his money."

"Oh man. The gap keeps widening. A lot of the minimalists buy new things every day and throw away the rest. It's disgusting," a third commenter said.

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