I had an elderly customer when I worked in a bank in Kings Cross. He wore the same smelly clothes, didn't seen to wash or comb his hair.
He had a safe custody box which was kept in our vault. He showed me the contents one day - it contained land titles to dozens of properties in the eastern suburbs.
During the war, Sydney was attacked by submarines, and not just in the harbour. There were big subs that shelled the coastline. Some people panicked and were prepared to sell their homes for almost nothing to get away from future attacks. He had a good job as a travelling salesman, so went to the bank and borrowed to the hilt to snap up as many bargains as he could.
He was worth millions, but was content to live in a cheap bedsit, and know that all the people who looked down their noses at him were not as well off as he was. Funny guy.
Many people who seem to be rich are mortgaged up to their eyeballs and barely keeping ahead of the bailiffs.