Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Most people come to Jackson Hole to ski, to enjoy nature, the snow, the elk, the bison, the occasional moose. (I saw three on my first two days!) But there’s a striking sociological phenomenon here that’s worth mentioning. Thanks to a combination of Wyoming’s natural beauty, its relaxed residency requirements and lack of income tax, Teton County, where Jackson is the county seat, is home to one of the most astonishing concentrations of ultra wealthy people in the world. Of all 3,144 counties in the U.S., Teton County has the highest per capita income, by far. Not surprisingly, it also has the highest income disparity in the country. The top 1 percent of residents here make about 233 times more money than the bottom 99 percent. Nearly 80% of that income is from investments. And although I knew all this before I landed, I was still shocked that the local Chamber of Commerce hands out free mimosas to all arriving airline passengers. (But yes, I gladly grabbed a cup.)
