For your disaster scenario, I think it depends on how low the max is. If 1000 times the median per capita wealth still buys you a couple office buildings and a yacht to boot, the ceiling would still be high enough that the vast majority people wouldn't all resort to stealing (much less petty theft). However, it would still lead to shady business deals, high-dollar theft, and hidden assets (especially foreign). But that's a problem for the wealthy. In other words, the idea is that you can be rich, but not TOO rich.