The New Flu

The latest malady afflicting the nation's super rich appears to be a juvenile version of "affluenza." And no child of parents with stock options to spare seems safe from its ravages. Symptoms include sloth and selfishness and a general disconnect from the average Joe.

Wall Street powerhouse Merrill Lynch has con­tracted with psychologists to help teach the children of its wealthiest customers the responsibility of being fabulously rich. Of course, the average yacht owner isn't eligible, with Merrill Lynch cutting off the ser­vice to clients with less than $100 million in net assets.