6 cringey status symbols people use to prove they've 'made it'

We've all seen them. The overly flashy displays of wealth that make you cringe a little inside.

You know what I'm talking about—those desperate attempts to broadcast success that actually end up screaming insecurity instead.

I've been guilty of this myself. A few years back, I remember obsessing over getting the "right" laptop bag because I thought it would make me look more professional at coffee shop meetings.

Spoiler alert: nobody cared.

The truth is, real success often looks nothing like what we think it should. Let's explore some of the most cringe-worthy ways people try to prove they've "made it"—and why they usually backfire.

1. Designer everything with logos everywhere

Remember when having a Louis Vuitton bag covered in LV logos was the ultimate flex?

Those days are long gone.

As noted by the folks at Yahoo Finance, these days, "prominent logo displays often backfire, making brands seem inauthentic and less cool."

I learned this lesson the hard way during a work trip to San Francisco. I watched as genuinely successful people—CEOs, investors, artists—walked around in simple, often unbranded clothing while tourists and wannabes paraded around in head-to-toe designer gear plastered with logos.

The people with real money? They don't need to advertise it on their chest.

True confidence doesn't need a billboard.

2. The luxury car obsession

Here's something that might surprise you: most wealthy people don't drive the cars you'd expect them to.

According to some data, more than 6 in 10 households earning over $250,000 don't drive luxury brands—they drive Hondas, Toyotas, and Fords. Think about that for a moment. The people who can actually afford a BMW are choosing a Camry instead.

Why? Because they understand something that status-seekers don't: a car is just transportation. They'd rather invest that extra $30,000 than have it depreciate in their driveway.

I've seen this firsthand. Some of the most successful people I know drive practical, reliable cars while their employees show up in financed luxury vehicles they can barely afford.

3. Living beyond your means for the gram

Social media has turned everyone into a lifestyle brand, and it's exhausting.

The perfectly curated Instagram feed. The expensive dinners. The designer clothes for every occasion. The exotic vacations that require months of financial recovery.

But here's the reality check: Research conducted by Lending Club showed that over six in ten Americans indicate they spend nearly all their income before receiving their next paycheck. 

I used to feel pressure to keep up with the lifestyle posts I saw online until I realized something important—many of those people were financing their "success" with credit cards and stress.

Real wealth is having options, not obligations.

4. Name-dropping and humble bragging

We all know someone who can't have a conversation without mentioning their important connections or expensive purchases.

"Oh, when I was having dinner with the CEO of XYZ company..." or "My financial advisor says I should diversify my portfolio more..."

It's awkward for everyone involved.

Genuinely successful people don't need to advertise their achievements in casual conversation. They're secure enough in their accomplishments that they don't need constant validation from others.

5. Expensive hobbies as performance art

Golf memberships at exclusive clubs. Wine collections that cost more than most people's cars. Art purchases that seem more about the price tag than the actual piece.

Let me give you an example. A few years back I was at a house party, and the host spent twenty minutes showing off his top-of-the-range sound system. He kept mentioning the price—how much each speaker cost, how exclusive the brand was, how long the waiting list was to get one.

But when someone asked him about the technical specs or what kind of music sounded best on it, he had no clue. He couldn't even tell you why it was supposed to be better than other systems, just that it was the most expensive one he could find.

Don't get me wrong—there's nothing wrong with having expensive hobbies if you genuinely enjoy them and can afford them. But when these activities become more about showing off than personal enjoyment, they cross into cringe territory.

6. The overpriced everything syndrome

Some people seem to believe that if something doesn't cost a fortune, it can't be good.

The $200 plain white t-shirt. The $50 artisanal toast. The $500 "exclusive" sneakers that look identical to $50 ones.

To these people, I like to quote Warren Buffett who once said, "The best investment by far is anything that develops yourself, and it's not taxed at all...Whatever abilities you have can't be taken away from you. They can't actually be inflated away from you." 

Real success comes from investing in yourself, not in overpriced status symbols.

The bottom line

Here's what I've learned after years of observing both genuinely successful people and those desperately trying to appear successful: The people who've actually "made it" rarely feel the need to prove it. They're too busy building, creating, and enjoying their lives to worry about what others think of their success.

Real status symbols? Financial security. Time freedom. Genuine relationships. The ability to be generous without expecting anything in return.

Everything else is just expensive insecurity dressed up as success. What matters isn't what you own—it's what owns you.