Years ago, I applied for a job as an overpaid personal assistant to an incredibly wealthy individual, a billionaire.

The interview process was the longest I’ve ever taken part in, spanned three days and at least ten separate interviews by the most-degreed individuals I’ve met outside an academic setting, including publishing houses. Most everyone had a PhD, at a minimum a masters degree, usually in an obscure part of the humanities or the social sciences.

Essentially, this man had bought the labor of numerous (how many, I can’t say, but sounded like at least thirty or more) highly-educated people to research and plan every part of his personal life.

I also had a roommate who was a personal assistant to a retired couture designer for a summer. She traveled to Paris, scouring for antiques. She would take digital photos- in the days before smart phones - and email it to him. He would then select what he liked and she would make the arrangements. Needless to say, I was jealous of her job. She also received a couple of his namesake jackets for free.