If you haven't already read it, I think you would enjoy Upton Sinclair's "The Metropolis".

What Ms. Stanley misses in her article is that the excesses of the famous for being famous 100 years ago was an important driver of Progressive Era drives to curb the idle rich and channel their wealth toward doing some good for society. The sad thing about the modern era is that no one seems to see these people and want to tax the inheritances that allow them to live their idle, silly lives.