Cate Blanchett has left her fans baffled after describing herself as “middle class” despite a staggering net worth of $95 million.
The Australian actress, 55, spoke during a press panel at the Cannes Film Festival where she discussed the importance of giving refugee filmmakers space to tell their stories.
During the chat, Cate acknowledged her privileged position, but stunned fans when she described herself as “middle class,” despite her celebrity status.
“I’m white, I’m privileged, I’m middle class, and I think you can be accused of having a bit of a white savior complex,” she said.
But many Australians and Americans were surprised that someone with a net worth of $95 million and a multinational property portfolio would be considered “middle class.”
Cate Blanchett has left her fans baffled after describing herself as “middle class” despite a staggering net worth of $95 million.
In the comments section, they wrote: ‘Dear middle class????’; She is upper class. Her net worth is 95 million’; ‘Middle class ??’;
‘Are you saying ‘middle class’ because you don’t belong to the aristocracy?! Hahaha what is this naming convention some people use?’;
‘Middle class. If, according’; —She is very disconnected if she considers herself middle class. Maybe a millionaire halfway…’
However, some Poms pointed out that he was using the term in a strictly British context, where class was traditionally tied to family and inheritance, not your bank account.
The Australian actress, 55, spoke during a press panel at the Cannes Film Festival where she discussed the importance of giving refugee filmmakers a space to tell their stories.
In the United Kingdom, the term “upper class” was historically used to refer to those of higher social rank, the aristocracy, or someone with a formal title such as duke, marquess, earl, viscount or baron.
When a British person calls themselves middle class or upper middle class, they usually say that they are comfortably well off, but they are not aristocratic.
One fan explained: ‘The important context is that in the UK, ‘class’ is more of a social label than a socio-economic one.
‘Historically, class has had more to do with your relationship with the aristocracy than with your bank account number. The “upper class” usually refers to people with aristocratic heritage.
During the talk, Cate acknowledged her privileged position, but stunned fans when she described herself as “middle class,” despite her celebrity status and privileged background.
“Those in the ‘middle class’ can be absolutely very wealthy, but if you don’t have a formal degree, you still identify as ‘middle class.'”
Cate received a private education at a Melbourne girls’ school and became a global celebrity and Hollywood star with a net worth of $95 million.
Cate, who was born and raised in Sydney, lives in the UK and has lived in East Sussex with her husband, playwright Andrew Upton, and their four children since 2015.
The couple, who married in 1997, share three sons Dashiell, 22, Roman, 19, and Ignatius, 16, and daughter Edith, eight.
Cate, who was born and raised in Sydney, is based in the UK and has lived in East Sussex with her husband, playwright Andrew Upton, and their four children since 2015.
Cate owns a £5 million historic estate near Crowborough, East Sussex, where she also bought land next door – a £1.5 million farm with 100 acres.
She also bought a £5 million eco-friendly home in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, back in 2020 and has been busy renovating the five-bedroom property.
Cate and her Australian husband Andrew also own property in Australia, as they also own an investment house in Sydney’s CBD.
Earlier this year, they also sold their three-bedroom family home in Prahran, Melbourne, for more than $3 million, well above the guide price of $2.25 million to $2.45 million.
