Billionaire Boy

In the story, Joe’s father tries to be a supportive dad, but he often accidentally upsets Joe. Identify and explain three instances where Mr. Spud tries to make Joe’s life easier, but it backfires. Explain why this happens. In doing so, consider their different perspectives and the main conflicts in the book.

Joe’s working-class background means that he does not fit in with his private school peers at St. Cuthbert’s, but his incredible wealth makes him stand out in his public school. How does Joe navigate being an outsider in both contexts? How does he finally find peer acceptance? Use examples from the text in your response.

Discuss how Billionaire Boy addresses the contemporary phenomenon of exorbitant wealth. Being a millionaire is no longer the pinnacle of status: Billionaire entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg represent a new level of achievement. How has the self-made billionaire class reshaped definitions of wealth, especially in class-based cultures like the UK? How does Billionaire Boy respond to this shift?