to enrich oneself
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to enrich oneself
To enrich oneself; to increase one's own wealth, often at the expense of others or in a dishonest way.
Man warf dem Manager vor, sich auf Kosten der Firma gereichert zu haben.
The manager was accused of having enriched himself at the company's expense.
The verb 'reichern' is derived from the adjective 'reich' (rich). It describes the process of becoming rich or making something rich.
Er träumte davon, sich schnell zu reichern.
He dreamed of enriching himself quickly.
In this meaning, the verb is almost always used reflexively: 'sich reichern' (to enrich oneself). The subject is therefore also the object of the action — the person makes themselves rich.
Der Diktator hat sich jahrelang am Volk gereichert.
The dictator enriched himself off the people for years.
It is often stated from what or at whose expense the enrichment takes place. For this, German uses the prepositions 'an' with the dative or the phrase 'auf Kosten von' with the genitive.
Er hat sich an den Bodenschätzen des Landes gereichert.
He enriched himself from the country's natural resources.
The verb 'sich reichern' (to enrich oneself) has a strongly negative connotation. It implies that the wealth was gained in an unfair, immoral, or illegal way.
Ihm wurde vorgeworfen, sich durch Korruption gereichert zu haben.
He was accused of having enriched himself through corruption.
to benefit
'profitieren' and 'sich reichern' both have to do with an advantage or gain. However, 'profitieren' is much more general and usually neutral: you can benefit from experience, help, knowledge, or money. 'Sich reichern' has a much narrower meaning: that someone increases their own wealth. It often sounds negative, especially when someone makes money at the expense of others. For normal advantages, 'profitieren' is the natural word. 'Sich reichern' only fits when it is really about money or wealth, often with an unfair undertone.
Einige Händler reichern sich an der Not der Menschen.
Some traders enrich themselves from people's hardship.
Die ganze Klasse profitiert von den zusätzlichen Übungen vor der Prüfung.
The whole class benefits from the extra exercises before the exam.