# You're a billionaire. How much do you tip restaurant staff? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736 "2015-11-16T20:59:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/1 "2015-11-16T20:59:00Z")
If you were a billionaire, how much would you tip restaurant staff or taxi drivers or other such folks (assuming they’re nice, courteous, professional, etc.)? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/2 "2015-11-16T21:08:26Z")
I tip around 20% right now. I would see no need to flash my ego by flashing more cash at people. Of course, in the right situation, I’d be the guy who leaves the $1000 tip and no name. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/3 "2015-11-16T21:11:31Z")
I’d prob still tip about the same, but I over-tip already. Especially if its a small bill like say on a $10 meal or I had a couple drinks I’ll tip $5 so that’s 50%, pretty dang good. I got my car washed today where they clean it for you and most customers tip five dollars maximum, but I saw how much effort the young guy put in to clean the hell out of my car so I gave him ten. I have a soft spot for people working in the service industry that live on tips, I’ve worked those jobs so I know how rough it can be. Just cause I’m a billionaire doesn’t mean I need to tip $100 every time I get a cup of coffee, but if I see someone really putting in an effort I’ll give them a generous tip, if I really had that kind of money, I probably would give some ridiculous tips around the holidays and such. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/4 "2015-11-16T21:25:02Z")
As others have said, I think I’d stick with my norm (20%) except in cases of exceptional service, in which case the tips that I now make slightly larger (such as a $9 tip on a $14 meal this weekend) would be huge. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/5 "2015-11-16T21:30:06Z")
I aim for 15% right now. As a billionaire, I might aim for something like 20-25%, but nothing extravagant. On the other hand, as a billionaire, I would spend a heck of a lot more at my meals. I might even (gasp) order a whole bottle of wine! And _two_ appetizers! If I spend an extra $100 and you didn’t have to do much more work, then you’re still making double on the tip even if I don’t adjust the percentage. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/6 "2015-11-16T21:38:55Z")
If I am a billionaire, why am I going to restaurants and taking taxis instead of having my own personal chef and chauffeur (who both get a handsome Christmas bonus)? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/7 "2015-11-16T21:42:21Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > If I am a billionaire, why am I going to restaurants and taking taxis instead of having my own personal chef and chauffeur (who both get a handsome Christmas bonus)? Supporting local business? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/8 "2015-11-16T21:50:45Z")
As a token of solidarity with the working stiff I would probably go for big but not ostentacious tips, enough to be a plesant surprise to make their day but not so much that they remember it years down the road. Say 50-100%. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/9 "2015-11-16T21:52:04Z")
I’ve asked three different friends that happen to be billionaires, and they all just tip the standard 20%. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/10 "2015-11-16T21:53:21Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Supporting local business? My household staff will eat in plenty of local restaurants. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/11 "2015-11-16T22:11:38Z")
It would depend on how I was feeling and how I was treated. I tend to tip 15-20%, but I would love to be able to make someone’s day with a ridiculously large tip. I’d use cash and try to slip out before the server got the tip. Heck, I might tip all the servers if I was in a good mood. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/12 "2015-11-16T22:19:16Z")
Why would a billionaire have to tip at all? Just pay your chef and kitchen staff a good wage. You don’t have to eat out and mingle with the crude masses. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/13 "2015-11-16T22:26:18Z")
What was the joke made in the doorman thread? “If you line 'em up properly, only one tip will be necessary?” 😃 OK, seriously…? The same as I would at any other time… 15% for average service, 10% for below-average; 20-25% for exceptional service. Presumably, my dinner check will be larger as a rich person than it would be in my current, broke-ass state. So that’s mo’ money for the wait staff. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/14 "2015-11-16T22:57:42Z")
Share the wealth. If they don’t know I’m a billionaire, then I’m going to make some good waiter very happy. If I’m a regular, then good service will likely get a couple hundred as a tip every time. That minuscule (to the billionaire me) amount of money could be a big thing to someone working as a waiter, and I wouldn’t notice it at all because my calculator doesn’t do that small of fractions. I’d also do the Elvis bit and reward semi-random people with new cars, only fuel-efficient ones instead of Cadillacs. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/15 "2015-11-16T22:58:28Z")
I’d tip 20-25%, which is what I tip now. But if I was in a really good mood, or ran into a situation where I could really make a difference in someone’s life, I’d certainly do it. Preferably anonymously. You can’t take it with you. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/16 "2015-11-16T23:27:51Z")
I think it would be a real warm-fuzzy to give a hard working wait person or other service person a meaningful tip. I’m not talking thousands of dollars, but I’d give $100 to reward someone who did an excellent job. It would feel just as good for me to do it as it would for them to receive it. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/17 "2015-11-16T23:54:22Z")
Why would I tip more just because I became a Billionaire? If would tip more just because I became rich that would mean that I am now under tipping. I normally start at 15% and go up or down depending on service. Normally it ends around 20% but I seldom tip less than $5.00. I worked for a few years in a hotel. Getting to know people who work as servers changed my attitude about tipping. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/18 "2015-11-17T00:24:38Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > If I am a billionaire, why am I going to restaurants and taking taxis instead of having my own personal chef and chauffeur (who both get a handsome Christmas bonus)? No matter how good your chef is, he’s not all the chefs. Agree that, within your own town, there’s no need for taxis. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/19 "2015-11-17T00:44:44Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > Why would I tip more just because I became a Billionaire? Because you can? Billionaires can’t spend all their money on themselves even if they try. Therefore the only morally acceptable option is to use the money to better humanity. Tipping large does this. inefficiently, I’ll grant you. But baby steps. You can tip large while still subsidizing clean water for 3rd World countries. If you do anything else you deserve to [del]die[/del] get a paper cut and spill lemon juice on it. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736/20 "2015-11-17T01:19:28Z")
Same as average for 99&44/100ths of the times I would eat out. There have been a couple really exceptional people/cases where I have tipped 100% or even more though and if money was no longer an issue for me --------- there are times when all bets would be off. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-billionaire-how-much-do-you-tip-restaurant-staff/737736.md?page=2)