Money Talks

Rich people get more publicity in general, so it stands to reason that those who go crazy will also get more attention. But it doesn't really take that much, because psychotic behavior is considered normal at a certain level of affluence and power. People don't try to hide it. They brag about it. That, too, makes it visible.

Sane, quiet rich people are perhaps less visible. There are some. They are much to be admired, as they can do a great deal of good. I suspect they're often lonely though. Other rich people tend to dislike that kind of behavior, and people with less money can be hinky about making friends with someone who has a lot more.

Look at the large-scale trends of how people behave when they have lots of money. Look at the kinds of laws they get passed. It's a pattern, and not a pretty one.

The idea of cursed treasure is ancient and widespread, as is the idea of dragons. Details vary but the concepts approach universal.

The effect of hoarding on the economy is one I've explored elsewhere.

>> It was an interesting lesson for me when I realized that after a certain point, money actually INCREASES my stress, rather than decreases it. <<

That's true for a lot of people, although the comfort range varies. Not being able to meet basic needs is consistently stressful. Above basic needs, somewhere in there it just stops being satisfying somehow, and people tend to get antsy.