Marrying rich can set you up for life. For the past few years, more and more people are choosing money over love, though people’s desire to marry the rich is explainable. Having a wealthy partner provides security, financial stability and a lot of free time. Even though it may be beneficial, it can cause serious damage to the relationship.
When it comes to wealth, there is a huge difference between old and new money. “Old money” representatives tend to provide greater opportunities to their partners. People who come from “generational wealth” have powerful connections, secure trust funds accounts and family members around them to help anytime. The positions held by these wealthy families vary from lawyers and bankers to CEOs and politicians.
“New money” representatives, on the other hand, are usually self-made millionaires who come from nothing and make it to the top. This term is relatively new and it has become popular with the development of the technologies, internet and media. These developments allowed people to earn money easily by gaining an audience, working from home and becoming self-employed. These “new money” types are often cryptocurrency investors, professional athletes or celebrities varying from social media bloggers to Oscar-winning actors.
By entering an “old money” family, you are becoming one of them. You are officially considered a part of this elite society, as the family name is well-known, no matter the age or social status. This elevated social status is the main reason why people who want to marry rich are highly interested in marrying somebody with an “old money” position.
The Upper East Side and the Hamptons are two rich places in New York City that are known for their “old money” vibe. These districts are homes for bars, high-end restaurants and luxurious designer boutiques, where the wealthiest people of New York are believed to live.
The interest in marrying the rich rises due to the representation of wealthy families that people see in different shows, movies and series. Gossip Girl is one of the most popular TV series that features the essence of “old money” on the Upper East Side. The series features high school privileged students living in a world where all that matters are money, scandals and heartache. Watching shows like this, people want to become part of that exclusive life, romanticizing it.
Those in New York are especially interested in marrying rich people, as the city is very expensive with a competitive job market. It may be easier for somebody to escape the reality of making it on their own and simply find a partner who provides for them. While it may be an advantageous desire as it provides security and welfare, it doesn’t guarantee the lack of any relationship issues or emotional concerns. A partner’s financial wealth can be the problem itself, creating a power imbalance in the relationship.
There are a lot of examples when after 10 or 20 years into marriage, a lot of partners who married rich realize that they haven’t lived up to their fullest potential. There is also a notable point that when the relationship is over, the “dependent” partner can often be left without anything.
I believe that marrying an equal is a much better position. An equal partnership can give people less dependency, less conflict and more stability in marriage. If there is no love but simple lust for money, people then have to keep up with the illusion of loving their partner and miss out on the amazing feeling of truly loving somebody and being loved. If somebody believes that they can grow to love a person they are marrying for money, then by all means, that’s not a bad thing. However, it all comes down to a person’s perception of marriage, love, money and life in general.
