That hierarchies remain a constant I think is more connected to social standing, including perceived power, rather than material wealth, although material resources are one pathway to power and social standing.

There is little relativity in social standing, but there is a lot in material resources. For example, with my electric lights, refrigeration and internal plumbing, I live in relative luxury to a king of a few centuries ago. As do many of the working class people who surround me. Yet this does not in any way quell their desire for the latest all-terrain monster truck, even if it is just for the purposes of picking up a loaf of bread from the supermarket.