What Succession and The Big Short Get Right About Money – and What They Totally Missed

From the boardrooms of Succession to the chaos of The Big Short, pop culture has spent the last decade giving us a front-row seat to the spectacle of money. These portrayals are dramatic, gripping, and often a little too accurate for comfort. But as Gen Z enters the financial chat and the investing landscape shifts beneath our feet, it’s worth asking: how well do these cultural landmarks actually reflect the way people are building wealth in 2025?

Gen Z is looking at the world through a different lens, one where money isn’t just about chaos and control. They’re investing in passion-driven assets like whisky, sneakers, and even art. They are looking for investments that hold personal significance for them. At Velokit, we explore what Succession and The Big Short got right about power, wealth and the system and what they missed.

What The Big Short and Succession Get Right About Money

First, let’s take a look at what The Big Short and Succession get right about money. Through the lenses of money and power they explore family and collegial relationships. And the overarching role money plays over society.

Power, Opacity, and Control: A Familiar Theme

Both The Big Short and Succession nail one thing: the power dynamics of money and the sheer opacity of financial systems. In The Big Short, you see how the financial elites kept everyone in the dark while they made off with billions betting on the collapse of the world economy. In Succession, wealth is wielded as a weapon, with each Roy family member scheming to control the empire and its fortunes.

The big takeaway here is simple: power in both these worlds is hidden, manipulated, and often hard to understand. And that’s still pretty accurate today. Institutional systems still have their walls up, and a lot of the financial world is a maze for most of us. But here’s where things are shifting, transparency is no longer a part of the negotiation. People don’t just want their money to grow; they want to know exactly where it’s going and whether it aligns with their values.

The Cold, Calculating World of High Finance

Both The Big Short and Succession give us characters who are emotionally detached from the money they’re making. In The Big Short, characters like Michael Burry bet on a market collapse, knowing it will hurt millions of people. In Succession, the Roy family shows zero hesitation in tearing each other apart to secure control of the family business. It’s all about winning, no matter the cost.

However, by 2025, the younger generations have moved past this ruthless, soulless attitude. Gen Z prioritises genuine connections and personal identity in their investments. They want their money to do more than just grow – they want it to have meaning, to reflect their personal values.  They’re opting out of the ruthless tactics seen in Succession and The Big Short, choosing investments that actually hold meaning for them.

Where Succession and The Big Short Missed the Mark

As Gen Z enters the chat, the conversations around money and financial investments have taken a turn. They no longer rely on so-called conservative investments and are turning towards new and innovative investment opportunities. 

Passion-Led Investments: The New Wave

While Succession and The Big Short present high-stakes, market-driven chaos, today’s younger investors prioritise aspects that resonate with their interests. Here’s where it gets interesting – the rise of passion-driven investments:

• Art: Whether it’s digital art or classic pieces, Gen Z is viewing art not just as decoration, but as a solid investment.
• Whisky Casks: Rare whisky is outperforming traditional investments, such as stocks. Over the last decade, whisky values have skyrocketed over 586%.
• Sneakers: Yes, you read that right. Limited-edition sneakers are a hot investment, with certain pairs fetching more than their weight in gold.

What’s happening here is a shift from abstract numbers and market speculation to tangible, lifestyle-oriented assets. Younger investors aren’t just in it for the return; they’re in it because it connects to who they are.

Gen Z and Their Investing Habits: A New Approach to Wealth

What makes Gen Z’s approach to investing so unique? It’s a blend of cautious optimism and identity-driven choices. They’re smart about it, and they’re playing the long game. Instead of high-risk, high-reward strategies, they’re looking for stability, personal value, and long-term growth. Here are some key trends that define their behaviour:

1. Low-Key Investment Strategies: They’re prioritising dependable, alternative investments such as whisky casks and rare art, rather than chasing the next big gamble.
2. Transparency is Key: Gen Z is eager for transparency in their finances! They seek clear & reliable information to truly understand where their money is going.
3. Social Media Influence: Social media and “finfluencers” play a big role, but they’re also learning to verify advice. They’re researching before making any moves, ensuring their choices are well-informed.

And here’s the exciting part: this shift isn’t a trend that’s going away. 56% of UK millennials and Gen Z prefer alternative investments over traditional stocks (source: Barclay’s PLC Annual Report, 2023). The global whisky market is projected to grow by over £20B by 2030 (Source: Grand View Research, 2023).That’s not a blip, it’s a new way of thinking about money.

What is The Future of Investing

While Succession and The Big Short give us thrilling stories about the financial world, they miss an important trend: today’s investors are shifting away from the high-stakes drama and looking for something more grounded. Gen Z and millennials are opting for investments that offer control, meaning, and long-term growth, rather than volatility and risk.

Investing in whisky casks, art, and even sneakers might sound unconventional, but these investments are outperforming traditional assets like stocks. “We’ve seen a notable increase in enquiries from younger investors, especially Gen Z and millennials, who are looking for more tangible, passion-driven assets,” says a spokesperson from londoncasktraders.com “They’re not just thinking about returns, they want investments that align with their identity and lifestyle.”

Today’s investors are focused on the future – but with a sense of purpose. Yes, they want their money to work for them, but also for their values.