"The only thing I like about rich people is their money"
About this Quote
Astor’s subtext is class-aware and strategically performative. As the first woman to take a seat in the British House of Commons, she lived inside elite networks while constantly being assessed by them. The quote lets her play both sides: she signals to non-elite audiences that she’s not starstruck by moneyed power, while also signaling to the wealthy that she understands how the game is played. It’s not envy; it’s leverage.
The intent is also protective. In a political world lubricated by donations, introductions, and access, professing affection for the rich can look like dependence. Astor flips that vulnerability into dominance: she’s not impressed, she’s extracting. It’s a line that anticipates modern populist rhetoric about oligarchs, except it’s delivered from within the drawing room, not outside the gates.
Context matters: Astor’s era was marked by widening democratic pressures, labor unrest, and suspicion of plutocracy alongside entrenched aristocratic influence. Her quip doesn’t pretend money is irrelevant; it insists money is the point. That cynicism is precisely why it lands.
Quote Details
| Topic | Witty One-Liners |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Astor, Nancy. (n.d.). The only thing I like about rich people is their money. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-only-thing-i-like-about-rich-people-is-their-162966/
Chicago Style
Astor, Nancy. "The only thing I like about rich people is their money." FixQuotes. Accessed February 2, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-only-thing-i-like-about-rich-people-is-their-162966/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The only thing I like about rich people is their money." FixQuotes, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-only-thing-i-like-about-rich-people-is-their-162966/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.







