What Rich Women Want: George Clooney

Conventional stereotypes say that women commit to men who can provide for a family. Since financial independence diminishes the need for a provider, wealthy women pursue younger, handsomer men who don't need to worry about supporting children. Basically, rich women are sugar mamas, and rich older women are cougars. 

Researchers in Scotland disagree, citing the so-called "George Clooney effect." According to a study conducted on 3,700 heterosexual individuals, financially independent women are actually attracted to handsome older men. The wealthier the woman, the less concerned she was about security and material stability, although she still preferred guys who were good-looking. Prefer Masculine Men? The Surprising Reason Why

We understand. Super-rich or not, we'd pick George Clooney over the cabana boy any day. The only problem is that many older men still prefer younger women. Back to the study, though. Although she initially assumed that wealthy women's tastes mirrored that of a wealthy man's, lead researcher Dr. Fhionna Moore says that independence alters a woman's preferences over time.

"Greater financial independence gives women more confidence in partner choices, and attracts them to powerful, attractive older men," Moore told Livescience. "Greater income makes women prefer even older men, and men prefer even younger women."

There's nothing too groundbreaking here, except for the idea that finances lend you the confidence to pursue someone who deserves you, at least by worldly standards.

At the same time, the article does not clearly outline how survey participants acquired their wealth. Would a woman who worked toward financial independence gravitate toward an older guy who had been born into privilege, and never had to work a day in his life? Or would she have more in common with someone who also had to pay his dues? Let's not forget, after all, that George Clooney got his start on Return of the Killer Tomatoes.

How do your own finances affect your taste in men?

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