AITA for asking someone how much their yacht costs?

On Father’s Day, a guy took his first-generation immigrant dad to the Hamptons to see the yachts up close – something his dad, who came to the US with nothing and built everything from scratch, found absolutely mind-blowing. While hanging around the marina area during lunch, the dad asked how much those massive boats might cost. The son jokingly waved at a crew member on one yacht, who laughed and held up two fingers: $2 million. Feeling the fun vibe, he asked about the bigger one next door.

That’s when a crew member from the second yacht popped out and sharply told him, “This is a private marina, please respect the rules.” Things got awkward fast. To cut the tension, he called back, “It’s not like I asked to drive the thing.” Now he’s wondering if he crossed a line or if the reaction was over-the-top snobby. The post sparked a ton of debate on social media, with people split between “it’s just harmless curiosity” and “you were being loud and rude in someone’s private space.”

‘AITA for asking someone how much their yacht costs?’

The day started with pure excitement for the dad:

Then he pushed it a little further:

He reflects on whether it was rude:

In an edit, he clarified the location after feedback:

At first glance this seems like innocent curiosity between father and son – a moment of wonder at extreme wealth from someone who started with zero. But the backlash highlights how quickly casual questions about money can feel intrusive, especially in ultra-wealthy enclaves like the Hamptons where privacy is a premium commodity.

The key issue isn’t just asking the price; it’s the context. Marinas, even those with public-facing restaurants or sidewalks, often have semi-private zones where slip renters (or live-aboards) pay big for seclusion. Crew members act as gatekeepers, and loud or repeated inquiries can feel like gawking or disruption – similar to yelling about a mansion’s price while standing on a public sidewalk in front of it. The first crew member was friendly and played along; the second saw it as crossing into their workspace/personal space.

Etiquette experts point out that asking strangers about the cost of luxury items (cars, homes, yachts) is generally seen as rude because it implies judgment or envy, even if unintended. In high-end settings, it can come across as class tourism – treating others’ lives as spectacle. The “yell back” retort, while funny in hindsight, escalated the awkwardness and made it public.

That said, the OP wasn’t trespassing or harassing; he was in a public-ish area, speaking at normal volume to one person. The reaction from the second crew member may have been sharper because yacht staff deal with endless gawkers, and privacy breaches can lead to complaints from owners. As one etiquette guide puts it: curiosity about wealth is normal, but directing questions at staff (who aren’t there to disclose boss finances) puts them in an uncomfortable spot.

See what others had to share with OP:

Social media opinions were divided, with many calling it mild YTA for the approach and volume more than the question itself, while others saw it as harmless fun:

This one’s a classic culture-clash moment: wide-eyed admiration from an immigrant dad meets the invisible walls of ultra-rich privacy. Asking wasn’t malicious, but the volume and follow-up turned harmless curiosity into mild disruption. The clapback was gold for breaking tension, but it probably cemented the “annoying tourist” vibe. No lasting harm done – just a funny story and a reminder that money questions hit different when the assets are floating status symbols.

Ever had a “how much was that?” moment go sideways? Or do you think rich folks (and their staff) are too touchy about obvious wealth? Spill your thoughts below – love hearing these real-life etiquette debates.