1/ Rich people, within the context of a market society, and who do not primarily rely on rent seeking enormously help society in 3 ways.

First, they got rich by creating things people want. Remember, in a market society nobody forces you to buy stuff.

2/ You buy things if you judge they make you better off. Rich people get rich by providing such things to millions and millions of people. They thus improve millions and millions of lives by some amount.

Second, rich people invest relatively more than they consume.

3/ Investment -- in factories, research labs, etc. -- is what propels growth in the long run. It is also what creates innovation.

If we consumed everything now, there'd be no growth and no innovation.

4/ Third -- and this is the cherry on top of the pie -- many rich people donate quite a bit of their money. Much of the arts and sciences are supported by their donations.

Gates et al. also spend billions helping the poorest around the world.

5/ In contrast, what do their critics do? They capture institutions funded by taxpayers, hiring only ideologically friendly comrades.

They write manifestos which, if followed, would lead to unmitigated disaster.

They often donate almost nothing to charity.

6/ And the cherry on top of the pie there is they have the gall to criticize "billionaire philanthropy"!