Transience of worldly wealth and power

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثَـٰثًا وَرِءْيًا

And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?