affluenza

American  

[af-loo-en-zuh] / ˌæf luˈɛn zə /

noun

1. the negative psychological or behavioral effects of having or pursuing wealth, as irresponsible acts and feelings of self-doubt or guilt.

2. excessive materialism or desire for wealth, associated with negative effects.

   workaholics afflicted with affluenza.

---

affluenza British  

/ ˌæflʊˈɛnzə /

noun

1. Also called: sudden-wealth syndrome.  the guilt or lack of motivation experienced by people who have made or inherited large amounts of money

---

Etymology

Origin of affluenza

1970–75; blend of affluence ( def. ) and influenza ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Monsters” is, among other things, a wicked parody of affluenza.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe Favre, who ranks among the NFL's highest-paid players of all time and was fortunate enough to grow up in a two-parent household headed by college-educated parents who both worked as teachers, suffers from affluenza now.

From Salon

Beginning with “I pledge allegiance,” the last word is supplanted by the sequence “adherence – adoration – anxiety – affluenza – I pledge allegiance to the flag…” You think your way through a vow you can probably recite by heart, stumbling across unacknowledged sentiments and, elsewhere as the text continues, even shocking cruelties and bigotries.

From Los Angeles Times

But in the hands of the masterful novelist Dana Spiotta, “Wayward” becomes something else entirely — a mordant, coruscating indictment of these times, liberal politics, affluenza, self improvement and social identity.

From Washington Post

The biggest surprise of “Nine Perfect Strangers” is that Tranquillum’s guests are in genuine pain, that these aren’t a bunch of Richie Riches who gave themselves affluenza out of cosseted boredom.

From Washington Post