Yes selling weapons is profitable. But if your own country is at war with an equally strong opponent, then its not. Economy is in shambles for both players no matter who wins. Also tax rates during war time are really high.

Wars and other catastrophes are equalizing wealth distribution and are not distributing wealth to the top.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/02/scheide...

History shows that many people made rich by war were able to buy their way into a neutral country and live safely.

Borders do not apply to very rich people.

You are right about the person itself. But their assets are often hard to move.

I just dont think that rich people in general have an interest in a (serious) war.

I rather think conflicts are used to distract from other problems and create "unity". But not with the goal to make money. Obviously some peope will try to profit from it while its going on and some will also lobby for new ones. I just dont thinks that this influence is that big

> an equally strong opponent

describes a small fraction of the conflicts the US was involved in in the last 100 years.

True enough, but that fraction has the biggest impact though.