Did the USSR Have Millionaires? Documentary
video description
Date: 2022-07-19
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 20
LashaU
In soviet union people who ran things (factories, government departments, even universities) were using their position to gain some wealth. Depending on the scale some of them even may became millionaire. But important distinction compare to west, was scarcity of the things you could actually buy. For example there were no luxury items, fancy cars, big villas etc. I know from my parents that some people had a lot money but they could not use it because there was not much to buy.
So point is that even if some people had millions they wouldn't be able to live as a millionaire, much better than average soviet citizen but far worst than western millionaire.
reply
In soviet union people who ran things (factories, government departments, even universities) were using their position to gain some wealth. Depending on the scale some of them even may became millionaire. But important distinction compare to west, was scarcity of the things you could actually buy. For example there were no luxury items, fancy cars, big villas etc. I know from my parents that some people had a lot money but they could not use it because there was not much to buy.
So point is that even if some people had millions they wouldn't be able to live as a millionaire, much better than average soviet citizen but far worst than western millionaire.
reply
Stefan
My grandfather was a communist leader in Romania, he had loads of cash though there where strict control. So he couldnt just buy loads of stuff, though he did buy more than others, motorcycle, televisions and so on. Also currency was often changed, so you would have to go to the bank and declare where you got the money from to get them changed. That he couldnt then the old money was useless
And he really was a true communist despite he got extra cash because of his position. He cut his own house in half, because he didnt want to have a bigger house than everybody else.
reply
My grandfather was a communist leader in Romania, he had loads of cash though there where strict control. So he couldnt just buy loads of stuff, though he did buy more than others, motorcycle, televisions and so on. Also currency was often changed, so you would have to go to the bank and declare where you got the money from to get them changed. That he couldnt then the old money was useless
And he really was a true communist despite he got extra cash because of his position. He cut his own house in half, because he didnt want to have a bigger house than everybody else.
reply
Plainview200
In reality, the USSR never was truly Communist, but was pretty much Socialist, as the country's name actually, suggest. From what I have read, however, the terms Socialist and Communist were kind of interchangeable with, say, an old Bolshevist proclaiming his or her self to be a good Socialist. I believe the aim of the original leadership was for the country to be fully communists, but they just never pushed it that far.
reply
In reality, the USSR never was truly Communist, but was pretty much Socialist, as the country's name actually, suggest. From what I have read, however, the terms Socialist and Communist were kind of interchangeable with, say, an old Bolshevist proclaiming his or her self to be a good Socialist. I believe the aim of the original leadership was for the country to be fully communists, but they just never pushed it that far.
reply
ninny65
Artyom was wealthly in an economically fair system, however, I think his wealth is justified because he was more of a merchant than a business man, trading common goods of his country in exchange for luxury goods in the USSR. He wasn't using any means of production to gain this wealth so it can arguably be justified in a communist system
reply
Artyom was wealthly in an economically fair system, however, I think his wealth is justified because he was more of a merchant than a business man, trading common goods of his country in exchange for luxury goods in the USSR. He wasn't using any means of production to gain this wealth so it can arguably be justified in a communist system
reply
Athish
So what you are telling me his one day a famous communist dictator of the biggest country in the world with nuclear arsenals in his control, literally everyone wants him dead both outside his country and inside in his country and killed and purged millions, decided to go to a walk with his bro's to help grandma cross the road.
reply
So what you are telling me his one day a famous communist dictator of the biggest country in the world with nuclear arsenals in his control, literally everyone wants him dead both outside his country and inside in his country and killed and purged millions, decided to go to a walk with his bro's to help grandma cross the road.
reply
Swolebody
Ofc there were. Like for example if u r good in singing and drop a song, u can charge money from the people who want the CD, if they think its worth it they will give it to you, even tho u just have a mediocre income and they too. If enough people buy it u r a millionaire.
reply
Ofc there were. Like for example if u r good in singing and drop a song, u can charge money from the people who want the CD, if they think its worth it they will give it to you, even tho u just have a mediocre income and they too. If enough people buy it u r a millionaire.
reply
canIshouldI
Yes they did, the quality of life differences were astounding. Even if you are not a millionaire in cash terms you can still live a millionairse life style through free goods and services which also have economic value regardless of whether you paid it.
reply
Yes they did, the quality of life differences were astounding. Even if you are not a millionaire in cash terms you can still live a millionairse life style through free goods and services which also have economic value regardless of whether you paid it.
reply
V1489Cygni
No matter how miserable people are, you can always count on them being crabs in a bucket to make sure sure no one will be that better off than them, but _suuure_, greed was introduced to humanity in the 19th century. That damn Adam Smith
reply
No matter how miserable people are, you can always count on them being crabs in a bucket to make sure sure no one will be that better off than them, but _suuure_, greed was introduced to humanity in the 19th century. That damn Adam Smith
reply
Douglas
Any people in any country that are rich, their money came from illegal activities.
To be successful and build and produce a product you need money. And of course you need money to pay off Sleazy corrupt politicians and law enforcement.
reply
Any people in any country that are rich, their money came from illegal activities.
To be successful and build and produce a product you need money. And of course you need money to pay off Sleazy corrupt politicians and law enforcement.
reply
Richard
When I was in high school I fantasized about getting rich by smuggling Levis and other clothing goods into the Soviet Union. Good thing I didnt try. Looks like there wasnt enough money over there to make an American wealthy
reply
When I was in high school I fantasized about getting rich by smuggling Levis and other clothing goods into the Soviet Union. Good thing I didnt try. Looks like there wasnt enough money over there to make an American wealthy
reply
pask94
So basically, NO. Until it didnt work as a communist country anymore with gorbachev, there were none. Unless our current intent is to rot under a capitalist boot, we should focus in the historic positives of the USSR.
reply
So basically, NO. Until it didnt work as a communist country anymore with gorbachev, there were none. Unless our current intent is to rot under a capitalist boot, we should focus in the historic positives of the USSR.
reply
education
Yeah they had millionaires, they were the people in charge. And if you look at their names, it looks less and less like a government and more and more like a list of people invited to a Bar Mitzvah party.
reply
Yeah they had millionaires, they were the people in charge. And if you look at their names, it looks less and less like a government and more and more like a list of people invited to a Bar Mitzvah party.
reply
Jason
There are people who believe money is power and never once understand that money is a STAND-IN for power. So when you do away with money you simply transfer to stand-in from one medium to another.
reply
There are people who believe money is power and never once understand that money is a STAND-IN for power. So when you do away with money you simply transfer to stand-in from one medium to another.
reply
John
I have met former soviet-citizens who miss the USSR. It was more fair, everyone owned everything, no billionaires, no organized crime. The rule of law actually existed. The dream that failed.
reply
I have met former soviet-citizens who miss the USSR. It was more fair, everyone owned everything, no billionaires, no organized crime. The rule of law actually existed. The dream that failed.
reply
TravisBroski
You know, Im no genius, but if I were a super wealthy dude in a communist country thats currently struggling, Id probably keep my mouth shut and not brag about the fact Im super rich.
reply
You know, Im no genius, but if I were a super wealthy dude in a communist country thats currently struggling, Id probably keep my mouth shut and not brag about the fact Im super rich.
reply
LesPauloCaster
I enjoy these 3 minutes videos so much, Ive been binging for a week now. Worth becoming a patreon.
Listing your patreons sups at the end is such a flex, for such a short video.
reply
I enjoy these 3 minutes videos so much, Ive been binging for a week now. Worth becoming a patreon.
Listing your patreons sups at the end is such a flex, for such a short video.
reply
Paul
Hey, you forgot to mention Kurchatov, one of the inventors of the Soviet Nuclear Bomb.
He was an actual legal millionaire - but probably was one of the few who did deserver that wealth.
reply
Hey, you forgot to mention Kurchatov, one of the inventors of the Soviet Nuclear Bomb.
He was an actual legal millionaire - but probably was one of the few who did deserver that wealth.
reply
Usmodlover
It would also be worth noting there were some fairly prolific smugglers and so on who amassed quite some wealth in iirc the 60s or so, Ushanka Show did a video on the topic I recall
reply
It would also be worth noting there were some fairly prolific smugglers and so on who amassed quite some wealth in iirc the 60s or so, Ushanka Show did a video on the topic I recall
reply
Al
The nomclemature and their dachas illustrated the Soviet saying that, The USSR is the greatest country on earth because all people are equal. Some are just more equal than others.
reply
The nomclemature and their dachas illustrated the Soviet saying that, The USSR is the greatest country on earth because all people are equal. Some are just more equal than others.
reply
Alejandro
But how exactly did they become millionaires under such a system is the actual question which I didn't see answered here?
Just the dealings & responses around it
reply
But how exactly did they become millionaires under such a system is the actual question which I didn't see answered here?
Just the dealings & responses around it
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
