Mostly the rise of Abrahamic faiths. Christianity in particular has had a huge influence on cultures and beliefs over the last 1500+ years, including by supplanting or eliminating other religions which had different beliefs about death and the afterlife.

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Common Sense isn't really a sizable factor when it comes to belief or tradition. There are an absurd amount of things that people still do despite not making sense in the slightest

Exhibit A: The Philippine belief that a boy must be circumcized so they can become stronger, taller, and more masculine. Does it make sense? Fuck no. Do people still believe in it? Bet your ass they do

Some of the better answers so far. Doesn't even have to be money, just the act of burying your relatives with material things

This is the answer, right here, especially Christianity (although the Catholic Church kinda missed the boat).

Im not sure what you mean by the Catholic Church missing the boat in this context, can you elaborate?

Talking about the opulence of the Catholic Church versus the whole "easier to stuff a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man entering heaven" thing, especially some of their tombs.

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But that's true about pretty much any church, Catholicism just happens to be the biggest.

Theres always going to be a few who flaunt their wealth after death.