One half of the world does not know how the other half lives

Proverbial Meaning: We know virtually nothing about how people unlike ourselves live their lives.

Literal Origins: It is often the case that rich people have no idea how poor people live, and vice versa.

Common Usage: This proverb is not well-known as it is, but is sometimes alluded to in an altered form and spoken thusly: "so this is how the other half lives" , when a poorer person, for instance, gets to see the inside of a richer person's house. It is also spoken this way in a jovial manner amongst friends when they think they are experiencing something a rich or upper class person might experience, such as VIP treatment, first class travel or a penthouse suite in an expensive hotel.