Back in the day, there were some telltale signs that your friend’s family had a little more money than the rest of us. It wasn’t about designer clothes or luxury cars—it was the subtle flexes that really said it all. Whether it was a game console before everyone else had one or something as simple as having their own phone line, these little luxuries stuck with us. Here are 13 things your childhood friends had that made you think, “Wow… they must be rich.”
1. A Fridge with an Ice and Water Dispenser
According to Whirlpool, fridges with built-in ice and water dispensers first gained popularity in the 1980s and became a marker of affluence in suburban homes. If your friend had one, it felt like their kitchen was straight out of a movie. The crushed ice feature alone was mind-blowing—why would anyone need that? But that smooth hum and chilled water made their kitchen feel extra fancy.
You’d stand there pressing the button just for fun, feeling like you were on a game show. Most of us were refilling ice trays and praying they didn’t spill on the way to the freezer. A fridge that made ice for you? That was futuristic—and undoubtedly rich-kid territory.
2. A Nintendo 64 on Release Day
Released in 1996 for $199.99, the Nintendo 64 wasn’t something every kid got right away. If your friend had one on launch day, their family definitely had money to spare. Mario Kart, GoldenEye, and Super Smash Bros. weren’t just games—they were elite experiences, according to The Triangle.
While some of us were still blowing on NES cartridges, they were zipping through Rainbow Road in 3D. You suddenly found yourself hanging out at their house a lot more. It wasn’t just about the console—it was about having access to something new and cool first. That’s the kind of wealth only select kids knew.
3. A Trampoline in the Backyard
As noted by The New York Times, trampolines surged in popularity during the 1990s, often seen as a suburban status symbol. They weren’t just fun—they were massive, expensive, and often came with that fancy safety net around the edge. If your friend had a trampoline, they didn’t just have a yard—they had recreational acreage.
Birthday parties at their house were next-level because of it. You’d bounce until you couldn’t feel your legs, then go inside for snacks from their walk-in pantry. Meanwhile, your parents said trampolines were too dangerous and too expensive—which made them even more magical. Rich kid energy all the way.
4. Their Own Landline in Their Bedroom
Forbes once reported that private landlines were a popular splurge in the late ’80s and ’90s, especially among affluent families who wanted to give their kids privacy. If your friend had their own number, they were basically living like a sitcom character. While most of us were stretching the phone cord into the hallway for some privacy, they were lounging on their bed, cordless.
It wasn’t just about having a phone—it was about having the freedom to use it without siblings or parents eavesdropping. You could leave them voicemails, and yes, they had a custom answering machine message. That independence felt like the height of wealth. You didn’t just want a phone—you wanted their phone.
5. A Waterbed
Waterbeds were both expensive and trendy, especially during the 1980s and early 1990s. They were marketed as luxurious and high-tech, even though they were notoriously hard to sleep on. If your friend had one, their room suddenly felt like a bachelor pad from a TV show. You didn’t know whether to sit on it or just stare in awe.
They’d invite you to “try it out” and it felt like you were floating. Meanwhile, your own mattress was either hand-me-down foam or a lumpy spring setup. Waterbeds were high-maintenance, hard to move, and somehow still a flex. If you knew someone with one, their parents were definitely spending more than yours were.
6. A Pool Table in the Basement
A pool table wasn’t just a game—it was a room centerpiece. If your friend had one, their house wasn’t just a home, it was a venue. You’d walk down to the basement and see green felt, real cue sticks, and maybe even a Budweiser light fixture, because why not. Their parents had clearly invested in leisure.
It wasn’t something you could tuck into a closet—it took space, money, and commitment. You couldn’t help but think, “Wow, this is what success looks like.” You didn’t even have a basement, and theirs had zones. A pool table meant they were living in a whole different reality.
7. Name-Brand Snacks in the Pantry
The snack drawer told you everything you needed to know. If your friend had Dunkaroos, Gushers, Capri Suns, and name-brand cereal, you knew they were living large. Meanwhile, you were bringing off-brand animal crackers to lunch and trying to trade up. Snack envy was real—and painfully relatable.
Every visit felt like a mini supermarket haul. They’d casually offer you a Fruit by the Foot like it was no big deal. But to you, it was like being handed a gold bar. Snacks weren’t just food—they were social currency.
8. An In-Ground Pool
Nothing screamed “rich kid” louder than an in-ground pool. Above-ground ones were cool too, but this was next level. The landscaping, the built-in steps, the diving board—this was suburban luxury at its finest. It meant summer parties, pool noodles, and zero trips to the public pool.
The best part? They had all the pool floaties, sunscreen that didn’t come from a squeeze bottle, and maybe even a waterproof radio. Their parents wore visors and served lemonade in actual glassware. You, meanwhile, were running through the sprinkler in the backyard and loving it—but still dreaming of that pool life.
9. A Camcorder
Camcorders in the ’90s were both bulky and expensive, and owning one was a big deal. If your friend’s parents had one, they documented everything—dance recitals, holidays, and even casual hangouts. The fact that they could film and watch it back on the TV? Game-changing.
You remember feeling like you were on a reality show. They’d rewind clips and show you from earlier that day, which felt like sorcery. Meanwhile, your family had disposable cameras and fingers crossed that Walgreens didn’t mess up the prints. Having a camcorder made them seem high-tech and high-budget.
10. A Computer in Their Room
This wasn’t just any computer—it was their own. Not the shared family one in the living room, but a whole desktop setup, complete with speakers and maybe even a dial-up modem. They could play CD-ROM games, write in Microsoft Works, and print off school reports without asking for permission. That kind of freedom meant money.
You’d visit and see them click away like a pro, maybe even designing their own website on Geocities. Their keyboard glowed faintly from overuse and pride. You couldn’t believe how fast they typed. A kid with a computer in their room? Future CEO vibes, for sure.
11. Season Passes to Amusement Parks
A one-off trip to an amusement park was already a treat. But a friend with a season pass? That was next level. It meant their family had the cash and the time to go multiple times a year.
They had the souvenir cup, the fast pass lanyard, and insider knowledge of the best rides. Meanwhile, your one visit per summer was a military operation of planning and saving. You envied how casually they said, “Oh, we’re going again next weekend.” Must be nice!
12. A Car with a TV in It
If you got in their car and saw a tiny screen in the backseat, your jaw dropped. Maybe it was built-in, or maybe it was one of those flip-down ones hanging from the ceiling. Either way, it meant they were watching movies on road trips while you were counting cows out the window. It was like being in a portable cinema.
They even had wireless headphones and a stack of DVDs tucked into the seat pocket. Their parents didn’t yell about noise—they just pressed play. That kind of travel experience was lightyears beyond your own. It wasn’t just cool, it was deluxe.
13. A Dog That Went to the Groomer
If your friend’s dog had bows, painted nails, or a little bandana, you knew the whole household was rich. Grooming appointments meant disposable income, no matter how you spun it. Your dog got the hose in the backyard and a towel dry. Their dog had a spa day.
You’d see it come back from the groomer looking shinier and smelling like cucumber melon. Meanwhile, you were brushing your pet with a dollar-store comb. Even the dog was living a better life than you. That’s when it really hit: they were definitely rich.
