Do you have a source for either of those claims? The little historical anthropology I've read suggests the opposite: status is a constant struggle. You don't get it and then have it, you work to show it off every day or you lose it, because in a sense it's like Santa Claus; something that only exists when others believe in it. For others to believe in it, they have to be reminded of it.

If anything, people are naturally suspicious of "old money" and other types of get-rich-with-little-effort situations (e.g. usury) and people with old money continuously have to invent new reasons to justify their wealth, not uncommonly resorting to violence to keep a stake in their claim.

(This is an amalgamation of different sub-messages of Drive, Debt, The Elephant in the Brain, Savage Money, and quite probably other sources I've forgotten about, but could look up if you've read the above and want more.)