Marrying for Money

Originally Posted by Article

According to a survey by Prince & Associates, a Connecticut-based wealth-research firm, the average "price" that men and women demand to marry for money these days is $1.5 million.

The survey polled 1,134 people nationwide with incomes ranging between $30,000 to $60,000 (squarely in the median range for nationwide incomes). The survey asked: "How willing are you to marry an average-looking person that you liked, if they had money?"

Fully two-thirds of women and half of the men said they were "very" or "extremely" willing to marry for money. The answers varied by age: Women in their 30s were the most likely to say they would marry for money (74%) while men in their 20s were the least likely (41%).

...

The matrimonial price tag varies by gender and age. Asked how much a potential spouse would need to have to be money-marriage material, women in their 20s said $2.5 million. The going rate fell to $1.1 million for women in their 30s, and rose again to $2.2 million for women in their 40s. Ms. Smock and Russ Alan Prince, Prince & Associate's founder, both attribute the fluctuation to the assumption that thirty-something women feel more pressure to get married than women in their 20s, so they are willing to lower the price. By their 40s, women are more comfortable being independent, so they're willing to hold out for more cash.

Full article found here.

The idea of marrying for money isnt a new one, but I looked at some of these numbers and almost had a heart attack. $2.5 Million? What?!

So, these numbers seemed ridiculously high to me, but at the same time, I dont think I'd marry a guy with no income. It sounds heartless, but if a guy is too lazy to get a job, I'm not interested. Nothing turns me off more than a guy with no motivation to work hard. Obviously if he's laid off or something while we're together, I'm not gonna dismiss him... That's a totally different situation.

I feel like I'm not getting across what I really mean, haha. I'd say that as long as the guy has a decent job with a decent pay, I'd be ok with that. I wouldnt ignore a guy if he makes less than $2.5 Million.

What do you guys think? These numbers seem a bit high to you? Would you marry for money? Or does the money mean nothing and its all about the love...?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Marrying for money? Fuck that noise. No amount of money would get me to tolerate someone I normally couldn't for the rest of my life.

How ya doing, buddy?

Who said it would have to be for the rest of your life

Divorces aside, at this point in my life, I don't think I would marry someone simply because she has a large portfolio of assets. I am by no means rich, and don't make a ton of money, but I do alright, enough to support myself easily, so my current situation is acceptable. Now if I were a single parent, struggling to get by, I would probably change my tune. If it means my kid having food, clothes, toys, living in a good school district, I would sacrifice some of my own happiness to make that happen.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I don't think I could pretend to be in love and use someone. I don't see how anyone could be happy like that. Maybe in the situation russ mentioned it's a question of making the choice with the least bad consequences, but even then I'm not sure I could do it.

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How willing are you to marry an average-looking person that you liked, if they had money?

I think the key words in the poll are "average-looking" and "you liked". If you asked someone, how willing are you to marry a hideous sack of pus that you despised, if they had money, I'm sure the answers would be a bit different.

And me, I wouldn't marry a deadbeat but if a billionaire playboy came to court me, I would be just as apprehensive. The truth is that most people are average and the people who we will eventually marry will most likely be average. To wait around all your life for that $2.5 million spouse is a ridiculous demand from someone who probably isn't too realistic about what life holds for them.

I was speaking idiomatically.

It's said that those who marry for money earn it.

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I don't believe marrying for money is good unless it is icing on the cake... not the cake itself.

Personally, I will be waiting for the day that I can go and pick my "wife/android" up at the hardware store. She will be well-versed in the stock market, have a vast and unparalleled stock portfolio and will be able to sing and dance to 'Singing in the Rain' with the click of a button. She will be vastly beautiful, intelligent and have big titties... but she will never know compassion and warmth... *and for that reason, will all be for nothing.

I wouldn't marry a person for money. At least not as the primary reason. Money is important, but if the love isn't there, if the warmth and compassion is metallic and lifeless, then I don't want it.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by kat

How willing are you to marry an average-looking person that you liked, if they had money?

I think the key words in the poll are "average-looking" and "you liked". If you asked someone, how willing are you to marry a hideous sack of pus that you despised, if they had money, I'm sure the answers would be a bit different.

Yeah, exactly.

But what I would like to add with that price and the entire piece really, it's so hypothetical. My girlfriend is currently in college but she will have a great job later because she's getting a degree that all but guarantees a job. Meanwhile I already work but my income fluctuates.

That's not what keeps us together, though. I mean, how fucking stupid would that be? Nobody is really like that. I've said before (when talking among friends) that if I had the choice I would marry into money, cause why WOULDN'T I say that? OF COURSE I would, all things being equal. Even moreso if you add the condition, like this research team--and I'm using that term loosely--does, that the person has to be basically likable and attractive. It would be not just stupid, but positively irrational not to do so.

But "all things" are never equal. You don't marry a face and a bank account, marry a PERSON, and every person is unique, completely, from everybody else.

Because we... are all like snowflakes. /lewisblack

How ya doing, buddy?

Do those figures include assets or are they expecting to marry someone who pulls in over a million dollars a year?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Given the rate at which couples divorce nowadays, I would be surprised if a money-based marriage last twice as long as a love-based marriage.

Given that the couple can stand each other ("like"), and are previously agreed on the fact that they are marrying for money and benefits, it is perfectly acceptable. Nothing says you have to SMOTHER your spouse with love. As long as you respect them.

As long as the case isn't that Mr. or Mrs. millionaire is infatuated beyond the point that they can't realize their spouse is gold-digging and are willing to accept it, it shouldn't be a probelm.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by RainMan

I don't believe marrying for money is good unless it is icing on the cake... not the cake itself.

Personally, I will be waiting for the day that I can go and pick my "wife/android" up at the hardware store. She will be well-versed in the stock market, have a vast and unparalleled stock portfolio and will be able to sing and dance to 'Singing in the Rain' with the click of a button. She will be vastly beautiful, intelligent and have big titties... but she will never know compassion and warmth... *and for that reason, will all be for nothing.

I wouldn't marry a person for money. At least not as the primary reason. Money is important, but if the love isn't there, if the warmth and compassion is metallic and lifeless, then I don't want it.

Propped for "big titties".

Now, I more than likely would marry for money. Sure, it sounds awful but there were a couple key points in the question. "Average looking person" and "you liked" stood out to me. If I liked the person and she was at least cute enough to wake up next to in the morning, then fuck yeah I'd marry her. That's a pretty silly question if you ask me.

IF YOU LIKED A PERSON AND THEY WERE RICH AND DECENT LOOKING AND YOU LIKED THEM WOULD YOU MARRY THEM

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Divest

IF YOU LIKED A PERSON AND THEY WERE RICH AND DECENT LOOKING AND YOU LIKED THEM WOULD YOU MARRY THEM

You just crushed the hopes and dreams of every lonely poor person out there.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Hey, it's not my fault the article chose faulty wording!

The question should have been presented as "Would you avoid marrying somebody because they had money?"

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Originally Posted by Zephyrin

Given the rate at which couples divorce nowadays, I would be surprised if a money-based marriage last twice as long as a love-based marriage.

You're assuming that most marriages are not based upon money (or career advancement, social status) in the first place. Notice how close the current divorce rates and the rate at which women polled about marrying money then divorcing are.

Originally Posted by Article

Of course, when the mercenary marriage proves disappointing, there's always divorce. Among the women in their twenties who said they would marry for money, 71% said they expected to get divorced -- the highest of any demographic. Only 27% of men in their 40s expected to divorce.

Maybe that was apart of the plan of marrying somebody rich?

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This is disappointing, we should all just be gay and get in a big pile and have sex with each other.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Forsety

This is disappointing, we should all just be gay and get in a big pile and have sex with each other.

I'm willing to try anything once or twice, but couldn't us guys just like not get married? Or not get married to spoiled gold-digging Western country women? Aren't asian women hotter anyhow?!

Screw that. That's too hard. Back to the gay pile!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?