In Season 3 of The White Lotus, the Ratliff family becomes a focal point for exploring and satirizing stereotypes associated with Duke University alumni. Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) and his son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) are portrayed as Duke graduates embodying traits often linked to the university’s stereotype. And while Duke may not love the portrayal, some parts ring undeniably true — at least based on my personal experience studying there as an international student from Russia, before I landed a job as ICLS Marketing & Communications Manager. Let’s dig in.
Timothy is a successful businessman (with some legal troubles — sorry for the spoiler). Victoria (Parker Posey) is a stay-at-home mom of three — a luxury in the 21st century. All three children attend top schools — Duke or UNC Chapel Hill (though Lochlan’s dramatic overthinking about choosing UNC over Duke is a stretch. Who really picks UNC after being admitted to Duke?). The family casually flies to Thailand for their daughter’s thesis and stays at a luxury resort. In short, the Ratliffs are portrayed as an average Duke-affiliated family — which says a lot.
With the total annual cost of attendance sitting at $99,344, attending Duke for four years is a serious investment, one that generally only families in higher tax brackets can afford. While Duke is need-blind for domestic students and meets 100% of the demonstrated need, it’s also well-known for attracting students from affluent backgrounds — especially those from private schools or legacy families.
According to Opportunity Insights, more than 19% of Duke students come from the top 1% of U.S. income earners, while only about 3.2% come from the bottom 20%. The median family income of a Duke student is around $186,700, significantly higher than the national average. Roughly 69% of students come from families in the top 20% income bracket.
Stats say it all — but there are exceptions. A master’s at Duke can be a completely different story. I graduated from the Master of Management program at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business — a one-year, half-MBA-style degree that allows for a 3-year work authorization on a student visa. As you can guess, there were no Saxons or Timothys in my cohort. About 80% of my classmates were ambitious international students hoping to jumpstart careers in the U.S. Sure, some came from money (though not the $186,700 median kind), but many were there thanks to scholarships, student loans, or both — myself included.
Let’s be honest — the Ratliff family gives off that classic narcissistic "I’m better than you" vibe. As an international student building a life in the U.S., I’d say that fighting for your “place in the sun” is more of a national mindset than a university-specific one. But the urge to prove your worth at all costs? That can definitely be traced to certain school cultures — and Duke is one of them.
Duke is not a "chill" school. People compete constantly — for professor attention, class participation (often just to be remembered, not because they have something meaningful to say), or extracurricular clout like student council roles or being valedictorian. Why? Half of those things won’t help your career in the long run, anyways...
I’ve studied in the UK and Russia, but the intense competition I witnessed only in the U.S. If you're thinking it’s because Duke (ranked 61st globally by QS) is that much stronger, I should note that my undergraduate degrees are from UCL (ranked 9th globally) and Higher School of Economics (ranked 1st in Russia by Forbes).
Duke wasn’t thrilled about the scene where Timothy contemplates suicide while wearing a Duke logo T-shirt — understandably, it doesn’t reflect the "decent" values Victoria likes to refer to. But the problem isn't the T-shirt. The real question is what drove Timothy to that point.
Yes, he committed serious tax fraud. But now, as the breadwinner for a family of five, he’s watching the life they’re used to collapse. His wife says she refuses to live "uncomfortably." She’s also terrified of their daughter staying in Thailand for a year because of what it might do to their reputation. Their son admits he’s got nothing without the family business. Their daughter preaches ascetic values — funded by family money — and their youngest is too young to help.
It’s not just about legal trouble. It’s about a family that has no idea how to function without privilege — the privilege Timothy’s wealth has always provided. Maybe they “just don’t have the will,” but that doesn’t make his breakdown any less real.
Is this dynamic universal at Duke? Of course not. But I have been casually asked, “Where does your family like to ski?” or, “I can’t imagine sharing a bathroom with my parents — that’s gross.” It’s moments like these that remind you: some Duke students are out of touch with how most of the world lives. Good for them — but still.
Oh, it’s there. Trust me. I’ve seen things in good old Shooters I wish I could unsee (though I’ve never witnessed two brothers crossing a serious line, thankfully). While the average Russian teen stops drinking by 15, American students start experimenting in college.
Duke isn’t in a major city, but it’s also not a middle-of-nowhere campus either. It sits in Durham — a town where Duke dominates the vibe. That means students party among their own. There's even a nightclub off-campus! It’s not like NYU, where you'd think twice before wilding out next to people your parents' age. And it’s not one of those isolated schools where Greek life is the only option. At Duke, you can party and feel safe doing it — making it a pretty strong contender for “party school” status among academically intense institutions.
As an international alum, I can’t fully assess the Southern accent satire in Victoria’s character — but my colleagues wrote an excellent piece about Thai representation in the series. Highly recommend checking it out here.
And if you’re someone who’s thinking about studying or building a career in another country, we’d be happy to help make those international ambitions come true. We offer language instruction designed to support your academic and professional goals — wherever in the world they may take you. Enjoy your 10% discount with the code WHITELOTUS, as our guests clients mean a lot to us :)
P.S. Fights with UNC? Oh, they’re absolutely real!