via Daily Mail: Inside the mind of thrill-seeking billionaires…
BY CAITLIN TILLEY, HEALTH REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
The Titanic submersible tragedy has shone a light on a growing trend among the world's wealthiest people — extreme tourism.
When photos emerged of the claustrophobic interior of the 22ft submersible that has no chairs and Ziploc bags for toilets, the world was shocked to learn its five crew members paid $250,000 a head for a ticket.
The finding of debris from the submarine has led the US Coast Guard and OceanGate Expeditions to conclude that those on board have died.
But Dr Scott Lyons, a psychologist whose clients include some of the world's wealthiest people, told DailyMail.com that new technologies have made it possible for rich people to chase increasingly dangerous thrills.
Jetting into space, exploring the depths of the ocean and skydiving from Mount Everest come with a hefty price tag that can only be afforded by the top earners.
Dr Lyons said the rich seek a 'sense of aliveness,' as there will be 'safety in parts of their life like finances, so they might seek the thrill and the risk in other places.'
The uber-wealthy may also naturally be risk-takers, which may be partly why they rose to success in the first place.
According to Grand View Research, the global adventure tourism industry is predicted to expand from $322 billion in 2022 to more than $1 trillion in 2023 as more firms seek to expand their offerings to daredevil tourists.