Curious about our industry makeup.
Growing up, was your family income low, medium, or high?

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Low. I remember my mum bringing men home at random hours of the night throughout the week when I was a little girl - she said were just her friends. When I grew up I found out that she was sleeping with them to earn money for rent. She doesn't know I know.

She moved us across the world to live in a safer country as a single mother and had nothing to her name. I still don't know how to approach her about this, or adequately show how much I appreciate her sacrifices.

likeuplifting

Sending you so much love CD3. When I was around 15 my mum stayed alone with massive debt and very high mortgage repayments because her husband (not legally married) left for another woman. She had no education and only choice was to start dancing in a strip club. Around the same time she told me that’s also what she used to do when I was much younger and she was going through a divorce with my father. She was open about it with me and I remember that even though I never judged her, it was still hard to process at the time. Now I’m eternally grateful! We were low income but I never felt like I was lacking in anything and she paid for all my after school activities which is what gave me confidence to end up with the career I did. Bless our parents who have sacrificed so much for us! 🤍

likeuplifting

I’m happy to see all these stories of people who made it out of poverty, but I think it’s worth noting there’s a self selection bias on this thread. People who grew up rich and had it easy are not rushing to brag about it. And also, there’s a high chance they genuinely don’t realize their family was rich / they are currently rich.

The vast majority of people think they’re middle class, even if they are actually affluent or working class, because you judge your status based on people around you, and you tend to live in a neighborhood / be friends with people of a similar income.

In actuality, the median *household* income is only $67k. If we define middle class as the middle 3 quintiles (i.e. exclude the top 20% and bottom 20%) then the upper limit is $140k. 90th percentile is $200k. So if you’re in a relationship and you both make $100k+…congrats, you are in the top 10%. 95% is $275k. All it takes to be in the top 1% is $500k.

Which was shocking to me. I always thought that meant like, millionaires. Nope. I think it doesn’t seem that out of reach to me because I live in NYC and amenities for the truly wealthy (like expensive Soho boutiques and luxury high rises) are so visible that it doesn’t seem unusual. But NYC just has a disproportionate amount of the top 1%.

likesmarthelpful

Thanks for highlighting this! Had similar thoughts, but regardless it is so uplifting to hear there are people in this industry who have made it themselves. I was genuinely sure it’s just upper middle class or trust fund kids.

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Low. Hourly wage parents. I couldn’t afford college. Fell into advertising and was making 250k by 30. Life in insane.

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Low. Child of immigrants.

They worked their butts off to help with college expenses, but I also had lots of loans and financial aid.

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In my experience, this industry is full of trust fund babies, or people who still get money from their parents even if they are 40+, married, kids, and have a stay at home wife.

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Skewed sample, weird to raise hand “I was born rich” but I was born poor so going to post that below now, lol .

Grew up in a 3rd world country. My parents were making less than $20/month household income when I was a little kid.

Once my dad spent his one month salary, which was nearly 4 dollars, bought me a pair of purple shoes I really liked, my mom got so mad because that was his entire one-month income.

I am forever grateful for the opportunities and life my parents worked hard to provide me.

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Grew up in China.

Randomly applied for an agency job after failing many interviews for editor roles. My agency later on was acquired by WPP, which helped me to move on to the next role & agency.

Child of immigrants and grew up in a tenement in NYC. Only my dad worked but we had more money than most of our neighbors so we were comfortable. You could feed a family of 4 for $20 in Chinatown/LES. Outside of our neighborhood we’d be considered poor.

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Low. Most of my childhood either or or both of my parents were unemployed. Took loads of handouts. I’m the highest earning person in my family which is really saying something because I make a little under $100k.

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I was born to oil barrons who crushed the competition created a monopoly and left me with billions!

likeupliftingfunny

And you chose to spend your life advertising with all this money? 🤔

likefunny

Low. Lived at home while going to college and took out loans for the “cheap”’ satellite campus of the state university. First in my family to even graduate college, even though we are white, non-immigrants. Ended up getting into advertising later in life (in my 30s) after years of poverty to turn my life around.

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My parents made a combined income of 250 most of my life. Made combined 500 at their retirement a few years ago. Depending on who you ask, I think that’s probs upper medium/high? V strict on sharing it with kids though. They paid for my college tuition (which I’m very grateful for) but nothing since. I always had to buy my own cars, rent, etc. and have had at least one job nonstop since I was 15. Still recognize the privilege though. If I was in a huge life or death bind, they’d be able to help me, which i know not everyone has.

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Growing up my family was barely making ends meet. I never had the cool toys and games every kid had. Couldn’t travel. My mom used to make our clothes. My dad started making decent money on the late 90s and by the time I was about to go to college he had money to pay for it and he gave me a car when I was 21.

The result is that still to this day I live a very frugal life but if I want something it needs to be the best of it because I always only had knockoff my entire life. I remember when I got a a very cheap skateboard and I could barely use it at a skate park, i will wait for when a friend was taking a break and ask to try their board.

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This industry now requires private non accredited clown colleges to advance in- im guessing fancy background ha.

likesmart

Very low. My parents were immigrants. My dad started a series of failed businesses that landed my family in 100k worth of debt. My parents eventually divorced and my mom raised me and my sister on a minimum wage income. Choosing to go into advertising was the most terrifying decision I’ve ever made and I’m really grateful it paid off.

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Low, parents only had hourly jobs no salaries.

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Working class. Dad a bus driver. Mom a secretary. I guess lower middle class. I was first to graduate college.

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People need to clarify the categories with numbers. Growing up I thought I was middle-class. Total income was $30k-$60k for a family of four. Now I think I was low-middle class.

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Comparatively high. Had one of their credit cards until I was 25. Gifted a car a graduation. They paid for college. I feel very fortunate that they helped me out in the way they did

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Child of immigrants, but they worked their asses off till they made a mid-level income

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Low. My mom was 17 when she had me; my father left when I was 3. She got her GED, but we spent time on assistance and living in housing projects.

Things improved a bit financially when she remarried when I was 10. He was working for DSNY, so that was a comparatively good job in the community. I think they barely cracked $130K as a couple while I was growing up—and we were a family of 4 in Brooklyn.

Crazy to think I now earn more than they did together, and it helps me appreciate what they provided a bit more — even adjusted for inflation.

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