I realize that this is just as off topic as the other replies above, but you realize that's not actually the case, don't you? The 'evil' rich guy in your scenario is likely not paying his employees the exact same rate that he paid them when you first got your wheel built. And the health care & other benefits he has been paying them likely cost him significantly more as well. I'm assuming that over the period of time that you reference, you have gotten a raise of some sort? The employees of the 'villan' with the BMW likely did too, which would raise his cost of doing business, aside from any other costs he may have had to absorb over the years.