"So I wanted to show what I did with the money. So I got red silk shirts, beautiful hats, wonderful saddles, a great horse, and two gold teeth. So that was the way I did it"

Eli Wallach’s words reflect an unapologetic candor about wealth, showing both humor and an underlying commentary on identity, pride, and personal values. The phrase “So I wanted to show what I did with the money” is an admission of a human impulse—the desire to make visible the rewards of one's labor or luck. He itemizes his purchases with almost childlike delight: red silk shirts, beautiful hats, wonderful saddles, a great horse, and two gold teeth. Each item suggests a longing not just for luxury, but for color, flamboyance, and perhaps a measure of rebellion against conformity.

Red silk shirts evoke images of vibrancy and boldness, a break from drabness or anonymity. Beautiful hats and wonderful saddles conjure a sense of style and readiness for adventure. The horse is not merely a possession but a status symbol, a living partner that elevates the owner’s stature in the eyes of others. Two gold teeth, arguably the most ostentatious of the acquisitions, carry a layer of comedy but also a nod toward the tradition of outwardly visible success. Gold teeth have historically signaled prosperity, marking the wearer as someone who has “made it.”

Beyond the literal, Wallach’s enumeration is defiant—he is not ashamed to display his earnings or to indulge in things that bring him pleasure. There’s a sense of self-assurance and refusal to hide or minimize his achievements. He does not mention investments, savings, or philanthropy, but instead cherishes tangible, personal joys.

His concluding statement, “So that was the way I did it,” underscores individualism. It is a declaration that there is no single “right” way to enjoy success. Wallach frames these material delights not as excess, but as expressions of personality and proof of his journey. In doing so, he encapsulates a philosophy of living boldly, authentically, and on one’s own terms.