How to Make People Think You're Rich

Co-authored by Paul Julch, MA

Last Updated: June 15, 2022

In today’s world, having money leads to both status and power. Having money can open the door to numerous opportunities in both business and love. However, even if you don’t make a pile of dough you can make others believe that you do. By utilizing some key status symbols, refining your personality, and putting your knowledge on display, you can appear rich and attract other powerful people. The power of suggestion may even put you on the path to true wealth.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Status Symbols

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Rent a luxury car. One of the most powerful symbols of status and wealth is a luxury car. You can appear wealthy by renting a very nice car and driving it to public events. Look into luxury car rental opportunities in your area.^{[1]
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Wear classic clothing. Simple, chic outfits are an indicator of wealth. Choose simple pieces that fit you well and are clean and pressed. Add accessories and finish off your look with good shoes. The items don't have to be expensive but they should be well taken care of.

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3
Wear a nice watch. Another excellent symbol of wealth is a high-end watch, such as Rolex, Panerai, or Jaeger-LeCoultre. You can gain the air of wealth by shelling out for one these numbers, or by finding a knock-off that looks like the real-deal.^{[2]
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Wear a fancy hat. Another subtler symbol of money is a high-class hat. For men, this likely means a nice fitted fedora or bowler. For women, this can mean a dress hat paired with a matching outfit. Wear a designer hat confidently to exude wealth.^{[3]
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5
Own a designer pet. Designer pets are the latest symbols of status and wealth. Generally, this means dogs that have been specially bred to be small, docile, and cute. This includes breeds such as Labradoodle, Puggle, Chiweenie, Goldendoodle, Cavachon, and Chorkie. Be sure to dress your designer dog in a cute outfit when you bring her out!^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Refining Your Personality

1
Look your best. Maintaining a well-groomed appearance will be pivotal to pulling off this charade of wealth. Be sure to wear clean, fitted, and pressed clothing, groom your hair and nails, and maintain a healthy figure.^{[5]
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- Don’t worry about dressing in all designer clothes. Look for a few high-end items in resale shops or discount stores, and keep the rest of your staple items clean and pressed.
- Have your nails and hair done professionally. Manicured nails and a professionally cut, colored, and styled do is important to propagating the illusion of money.
- Hit the gym and watch what you eat. Although true rich people come in all shapes and sizes, you can create envy by looking as hot as possible. Tone your body in the gym 5-6 days a week. Eat vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
2
Give yourself a new name. Your name has the potential to make you seem like a pauper or a prince. Even just a nickname you go by can convey a lot about your social class. Select a new name or nickname, and begin introducing yourself this way. This is most convenient if you will soon be entering a new social circle.^{[6]
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- Nicknames that sounds like they belong to baseball players (such as Chuck or Gordy) can actually sound like wealthy names.
- Names that sound old-fashioned (like Benjamin, Alistair, or Bernadette) can make it sound like you come from old money.
- Think of ways to slightly alter your existing name, such as using Christopher over Chris, or going by your last name.
3
Banish “filler words” from your vocab. Nothing makes you sound low-class like filling your sentences with “like,” “uh,” or worst of all, the “F” word. These words (and others like them) are known as filler words, and they clutter up the talk of the lower classes. If you want to seem rich, work to banish these words from your patterns of speech.^{[7]
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Associate with wealthy people. Wealthy people tend to travel in packs. Find out where the rich people go and head in that general direction. If you frequent places where rich people are found, you will naturally make connections.^{[8]
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- Try a country club. If you are going for “old money” consider going for the country club haunt. Unfortunately, you will need to find someone to get you in, so scan your list of wealthy friends and find reasons to hang with them when it’s time to play mixed doubles.
- Check out restaurants or clubs. This may take some planning, but securing the “reserved” table or area at a club screams, “I have money!” Reserve the VIP table at the hottest club in town and order Grey Goose and grapefruit juice--the drink of the money gods.
- Visit vacation spots. Head off to Club Med, Aruba, Hawaii or the Hamptons: wherever you could possibly catch Megan Fox or Brad Pitt sunning themselves on the beach. You don’t have to stay in a five star hotel, either. Many hot and happening places offer affordable accommodations.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Putting Your Knowledge on Display

1
Cultivate knowledge of gourmet food. Wealthy people tend to enjoy expensive, gourmet food. If you want people to think you are rich, you need to have a pretty good knowledge of these foods. You need to know how to pronounce the names, have a sense of what various foods taste like, and know how to consume them properly. Visit some high-end restaurants in your area, and take a photo of the menu. When you get home, do some internet research to familiarize yourself with several of the dishes.^{[9]
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Know your wine. Along the same lines, most wealthy people have a good understanding of wine. Begin to expand your knowledge of fine wines by visiting wineries near you and participating in wine tasting. You can learn a great deal from the sommelier leading the tasting. Visit several different wineries, and begin drinking wine at home.^{[10]
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Know how to talk about art. Visiting art galleries and collecting art is a common hobby for the wealthy. You will not need to purchase expensive artworks, but you will need to know how to talk about them. Pick up a beginners guide to art history, as well as a beginners guide to art theory at your local library. Spend some time reading each book. Pick out 3-4 favorite artists, and 2-3 favorite art concepts to memorize. You can use these tidbits to speak about art in an educated way.^{[11]
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Bolster your general knowledge. Although there are exceptions, most wealthy people are well-educated, and they come from well-educated families. This means they can effortlessly converse on a wide range of topics, from history to economics to popular culture. If you want to fit it with the rich kids, you’ve got to be able to keep up in conversation. Purchase or borrow the game “Trivial Pursuit” and begin memorizing factual tidbits. If you find a subject area that appeals to you, do further research to bolster what you know.^{[12]
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5
Drop some important names. Dropping little hints in conversation is a perfect, nonchalant way to come off as wealthy. Sprinkle the names of rich and famous people you've come into contact with (celebrities, athletes, or well-known financiers) into conversation. Or mention the names of fancy places (Paris, Dubai, Tokyo). Do you best to sound natural, and be sure to have enough background information on the person/place to answer questions, if asked.
6
Mention people who work for you. Wealthy people must hire others to help manage their affairs. These people may be accountants, lawyers, personal assistants, or other types of hired help. Casually mentioning that you are "waiting to hear back from your accountant," or that your "assistant is picking that up" lends an air of class and wealth to your personality.

Community Q&A

Question

Since I'm too young to drink, would having knowledge of different teas help?

Community Answer

It depends on the topic of conversation, but it definitely wouldn't hurt!
Question

My dad has a good looking car and lots of money. Does that mean I'm rich?

Community Answer

No, it means your dad is rich.
Question

How can I look rich at school?

Community Answer

Expensive clothes, shoes, and accessories will help you look rich, as will extravagant lunches like sushi or bento boxes.

Warnings

Avoid doing anything illegal or shady in an effort to give off the illusion that you are wealthy.

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A purebred dog is often better than a designer dog- depending on the breed, purebreds are usually healthier.

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