The Haves and Have-Yachts

De: Evan Osnos

Narrado por: Evan Osnos

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From National Book Award–winning author Evan Osnos comes a “sharp…charming… regrettably timely” (The Washington Post) collection of essays exploring American oligarchy, billionaire culture, and the new Gilded Age, offering a wry, unfiltered look at how the ultrarich shape—and sometimes warp—our social and political landscape.

The one percent now hold more of America’s wealth than they did in the heyday of the Carnegies and Rockefellers. In this incisive work of reportage, Osnos paints an unforgettable portrait of the tactics and obsessions that define today’s elite class: superyachts, luxury bunkers, tax dodges, and a torrent of political donations that bespeak staggering disparities of wealth and power.

With deft storytelling and meticulous reporting, this is a book about the indulgences, incentives, and psychological distortions that define our economic age. In each essay, Osnos lifts the curtain on a world rarely seen, from the outrageous to the surreal: a private wealth manager betraying an American dynasty; pop stars performing at lavish parties for children; status anxiety spilling from marinas in Monaco and Palm Beach like real-world episodes of Succession or The White Lotus.

Listeners will meet disgraced moguls in a “white-collar support group,” unravel the largest Ponzi scheme in Hollywood history, and explore the global ambitions of tech tycoons, including Mark Zuckerberg. A celebrated political reporter, Osnos documents the unprecedented influence Silicon Valley and Wall Street now have on Washington—and the explosive backlash this influence provokes.

Originally published in The New Yorker, these essays have been revised and expanded to deliver an “eye-opening account” (The Guardian) of raw ambition, unimaginable fortune, and the rise of America’s modern oligarchy. Osnos’s essays are a wake-up call—a case against complacency in the face of unchecked excess, as the choices of the ultrarich ripple through our lives. Entertaining, unsettling, and eye-opening, The Haves and the Have-Yachts couldn’t be more relevant to today’s world.

©2025 Evan Osnos (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

well organized

very informative regarding excessive accumulation and retention of wealth in America. fascinating details on lack of taxation on wealth.

Very informative and well crafted

Very informative, it shows the true intentions of some of the wealthy and how they influence governments and the world at large.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I don’t think most people don’t get what is going on in this country, especially with rich people, between insider trading, tax cheating by the rich through manipulation of tax laws, and outright breaking the laws. One part of the book towards the end is the fact that if other people can get away with this, I can too! A great read to understand how the poor people get F**ked by the rich, and mostly get away with it.

Entertaining

Its rare to get a true glimpse inside of the walls of extreme success and privilege. I was hoping for something more akin to “Billionaire Wilderness”, which was very throughly researched.
This book was informational and also well- researched. But it sort of led nowhere. I did enjoy it, however.

The Yachts History Lesson & Corruption Adjacents

I never knew the history of super yachts among the 1%. Size matters. I was reminded of some of the diabolical white collar crimes about which I long forgot. The 2025 updates give a "where are they now" feel. Great read.

Morals matter. Character counts. Ethics explain. .

Great presentation of roots and consequences of income inequality. Definitely worth the read/listen. First and last chapters are brilliant.

For Curious Minds ~ Valuable Information

Great book! Great Stories and Revelations. Great narration! All of what I didn't know about a huge section of social intercourse in our society explained so beautifully. I became so much more aware of the world we live in. Highly entertaining. I wish everyone would have this knowledge. I can't wait to read his other books. I am SOOOOO happy I purchased this book. I read the few negative reviews prior to purchasing this and they are totally unreal to me. As if some political fans (The word fan comes from the word fanatic.) became enraged at some inconvenient truths. Or simply put upon because these truths are inconvenient? So bizarre. But it's not like that at all. I can't recall any "liberal bias" I experienced reading this book. Just straight facts and valuable information. It is disturbing that an adult will use a book review page to suppress valuable information and work to prevent others from having it. Political propagandists? Very disturbing. So creepy. Don't deny yourself this pleasure and the ability to become more aware.

Some good, some bad, some random

Interesting idea. Starts strong then drifts to material that’s ever more tenuously connected to the original theme. By the end, it feels like you’re reading a different book than the one you started.

Excellent.

Each essay is extremely well written and researched, as well as updated to 2025. Very insightful.

How the incredible trove monies that could be used to help others is woefully missing.

I would hope to see an equally informative book that addresses the title of my review.