Not necessarily high income. Many folks I know with rugs like this are regular people in the suburbs and they used to belong to grandparents. They didn't used to cost so much 50-100 years ago. But! I have seen them literally rolled up and left in the street in rich neighborhoods for people to take. 2 in the last month! (I don't have room or I would've taken them) Often furniture is left out the same way. If you have a high end area take a drive or stroll through at 3-4pm. I don't know why but it's the magic hour in our town.

Estate sales often have high end rugs that are hand knotted but look very soiled sometimes so they don't get noticed. A professional pressure wash cleaner can bring them back to life. They last generations!