Is Marrying Rich a Viable Career Plan?

YES:

It might not be listed on LinkedIn, but it’s as strategic as any other career.

In this day and age, financial stability is often a pipe dream for those not blessed with familial wealth. While many dismiss the idea of marrying for money as a selfish and materialistic stratagem, make no mistake, it requires just as much skill and effort as any other career. 

Developing the skill set required to land a life with a wealthy partner requires practice and dedication. It’s worth exploring this unconventional, yet tenable career path.

Marrying rich is, in a sense, a form of career management. In the same way professionals cultivate skills and connections to rise in their given fields, individuals pursuing this path must also leverage their networking skills. Charm, emotional intelligence and the ability to socialize are as vital in this career as any other.

One of the better arguments for marrying rich is its efficiency. 

Going down a traditional career path to achieve financial security can take years of expensive schooling and decades of labor. By marrying into money, individuals skip the grind and gain a lifestyle that already includes wealth. Critics may label this as shallow, but financial stability has always been a part of the career decision process. 

Why should marrying rich be treated as any less just because it’s an unorthodox investment?

Marrying rich isn’t easy, as the qualifications can fluctuate greatly depending on the person being pursued and their romantic taste. The job market will be competitive because there’s only a small pool of wealthy potential partners. 

The stereotype for those marrying rich is often that its all about looks, but with enough practice and skill, it may not even be necessary to maintain a polished appearance. By cultivating an air of mystery around oneself, through foreign language skills or wild personal anecdotes, a rich potential lover will surely be enthralled. 

Marrying rich may often seem like it’s limited to failed artists or former medal-winning Olympians, but it can be achieved by anyone with enough ambition.

It doesn’t have to be an all-encompassing goal either. Like any other hobby, it can simply be something explored on the side. Instead of reading a book at home, maybe try reading at a corporate cafeteria. It’s not about giving up on personal goals, but about staying adaptable.

Marrying rich certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s far from the lazy, unattainable task it’s made out to be. Like any life path, it requires strategy, dedication and an understanding of one’s personal goals. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a path that works best for oneself and their hobbies.

Success is success whether it’s earned by years of office work or the effort to get a ring. 

NO:

As the new year is set in motion, I find myself reflecting on memories, friends and conversations I had before I left for college. Newfound independence, messy roommates and rushing sororities were the center of every chat.

One topic in particular was revisited again and again — the fall back plan. 

“If this college thing doesn’t work out for me, my plan B will be to marry rich,” my friends and I would say, nodding in agreement and smiling at the idea of a soft life to fall back on.

It was nice to think no matter what we faced in college, a foolproof backup plan would ensure financial stability. 

While marrying rich can provide financial stability and social mobility, some who choose this route find themselves trapped. Discarding an education for someone simply because they can provide monetarily may not work out in the long run.

Relationships and people can change over time. Marrying someone for money means you may not really know them, causing what you thought was your life plan to come to an abrupt end. Forgoing a degree in pursuit of a dependent lifestyle is a risk. 

Of course, this is the worst case scenario. Let’s stay optimistic and consider what could happen if you marry the perfect man — he would never dream of cheating on you. You don’t have a job or a degree because there’s no need — this man’s here to stay. 

If this sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard it before. It’s the same rhetoric young women have been exposed to on TikTok, according to The Gazelle. Creators like Shera Seven discuss this ideal, calling it princess treatment.

Even in this best case scenario, you’d live as an accessory to your partner. While being provided for may ease financial anxieties, the trade-off is often being reduced to just a pretty face, ultimately leading to a comfortable but unfulfilling life. 

Around Loyola, I see students rush into classrooms despite the -15 degree weather. I envision the futures and careers — executives, nurses, journalists and doctors. I attend class with smart, complex individuals who have the ability to be so much more than an accessory to a spousal sponsor.

Marrying rich without getting an education is to gamble on the continued success of a single person. In a world where nearly 40 to 50% of marriages end in divorce, that’s a dangerous bet to make. Don’t sell yourself short.