They rarely mix it up with commoners or find themselves in "normal" day-to-day
struggles, etc. and as a result they feel a disconnect or tend to think more
in the abstract or with tunnel vision. I think some actually long for some touchstone
to regular life while others aren't even conscious of their rarified existence.
And of course most of our politicians as well as CEO level business people
are in the 1% to boot, though that can come with a whole other set of problems,
just at another level.

The wealthiest people I've known vary quite a bit, but once you know them personally
it tends to humanize them. If you think of all rich people in the abstract then of course
just like any group, they are dehumanized. Many have inherited their life and know
nothing else. Others with a conscience feel a huge responsibility comes with their wealth
and though they will never be poor, they do try to use their class position to better others's lives.
And then there are people like you describe, whom I've also run into, who are very egocentric
and whether they've come from humble backgrounds and are self made, or whether they've
inherited their wealth, they need to feel that they stand apart from those who are less
educated, poorer, etc. It's a sense of entitlement. They tend to be authoritarian and are accustomed to handling a small army of people who service them and their lifestyle much like an old southern plantation owner might have dealt with their slaves.

So while I advocate connections that humanize us, it does seem pretty clear that it is no coincidence
that such a divide in income has occurred. Many in the upper echelons have been seized by greed and a desire to hold onto their power. This is not a new pattern. It happened when we moved from an agricultural to an industrial base. Now its a shift to globalization and technology with many left behind. And because greed leads to corruption, just about every system must be rebalanced, which usually comes from a revolt by the have nots.