Money might not buy happiness, but it sure inspires a treasure chest full of colorful expressions! Idioms about being rich can be found in conversations, books, movies, and even songs—adding a splash of humor, exaggeration, and creativity to everyday language. These phrases don’t always mean exactly what they sound like, but they do help paint a vivid picture of someone who’s living the high life, swimming in cash, or just plain lucky in the money department.
Understanding idioms related to wealth can be both fun and useful. Whether you’re talking about a billionaire tech genius, a lucky lottery winner, or just joking with your friends about someone’s fancy new shoes, these phrases help you express those money vibes with flair. In this article, you’ll explore 42 idioms that describe someone as rich—along with meanings, examples, and other ways to say them—so you can sprinkle them into your conversations like gold dust. Let’s dive into the sparkling world of wealth-related idioms!
Idioms for Rich
1. Rolling in dough
Meaning: To have a lot of money.
In a Sentence: Ever since he started his own business, he’s been rolling in dough and buying designer clothes every week.
Other Ways to Say: Loaded with cash, Wealthy
2. Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
Meaning: Born into a rich family.
In a Sentence: She never had to worry about money because she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Other Ways to Say: Privileged at birth, Came from money
3. Made of money
Meaning: Extremely wealthy, with seemingly unlimited funds.
In a Sentence: You keep asking for expensive gifts—do you think I’m made of money?
Other Ways to Say: Rich beyond limits, Flush with cash
4. Money to burn
Meaning: Having so much money that you can spend freely.
In a Sentence: He travels first-class and stays at five-star resorts because he’s got money to burn.
Other Ways to Say: Plenty of cash, Spendthrift
5. In the money
Meaning: Having a sudden increase in wealth.
In a Sentence: After winning the jackpot, she was definitely in the money and planning her dream vacation.
Other Ways to Say: Financially set, Rolling in cash
6. Sitting on a gold mine
Meaning: Owning something extremely valuable, often without realizing it.
In a Sentence: That old comic book collection in your attic might be a gold mine—you should get it appraised!
Other Ways to Say: Holding hidden wealth, Unrecognized fortune
7. Living high on the hog
Meaning: Living in luxury and comfort due to wealth.
In a Sentence: After the promotion, they were living high on the hog, dining at fancy restaurants every weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Living the good life, Enjoying luxury
8. Filthy rich
Meaning: Extremely and possibly obscenely wealthy.
In a Sentence: That tech entrepreneur is so filthy rich he could buy an island just for weekend getaways.
Other Ways to Say: Crazy rich, Loaded
9. Loaded
Meaning: Very wealthy.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry about the bill—he’s totally loaded and insists on paying.
Other Ways to Say: Rich, Has deep pockets
10. More money than sense
Meaning: So much money that someone spends it foolishly.
In a Sentence: He bought a diamond-encrusted phone case—clearly he has more money than sense.
Other Ways to Say: Overspender, Lavish spender
11. Rake in the money
Meaning: To earn a lot of money quickly or easily.
In a Sentence: That new mobile game is raking in the money thanks to its millions of users.
Other Ways to Say: Bring in big bucks, Cash in big time
12. Worth a fortune
Meaning: Very valuable or expensive.
In a Sentence: Their beachfront property is worth a fortune now that the area has become a tourist hotspot.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely valuable, High-priced
13. Cash cow
Meaning: Something that generates a steady and large profit.
In a Sentence: That fashion blog turned into a cash cow once sponsors started pouring in.
Other Ways to Say: Big earner, Profitable business
14. Money talks
Meaning: Money has great influence or power.
In a Sentence: He got the best table at the restaurant because, well, money talks.
Other Ways to Say: Cash gets results, Wealth wins influence
15. Minting money
Meaning: Earning money very quickly and in large amounts.
In a Sentence: That online course is minting money—thousands are signing up every week!
Other Ways to Say: Profiting fast, Making big money
16. A fat wallet
Meaning: Having a lot of money.
In a Sentence: You’ll need a fat wallet if you want to shop on that luxury street.
Other Ways to Say: Big spender, Financially comfortable
17. A man/woman of means
Meaning: A person who is financially well-off.
In a Sentence: As a man of means, he generously funded the community library renovation.
Other Ways to Say: Wealthy person, Financially established
18. The lap of luxury
Meaning: Living in complete comfort and wealth.
In a Sentence: After retiring, they moved into a villa and now live in the lap of luxury.
Other Ways to Say: Lavish lifestyle, Surrounded by wealth
19. Deep pockets
Meaning: Having a lot of money to spend or invest.
In a Sentence: With such deep pockets, the company easily bought out its competitors.
Other Ways to Say: Wealthy investor, Rich backing
20. Champagne taste on a beer budget
Meaning: Desiring expensive things without having the money to afford them.
In a Sentence: She dreams of designer fashion, but she’s got champagne taste on a beer budget.
Other Ways to Say: Living beyond means, Expensive tastes with low funds
21. Strike it rich
Meaning: To suddenly become very wealthy.
In a Sentence: He struck it rich when his small app went viral and got bought by a tech giant.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the jackpot, Come into a fortune
22. Feather one’s nest
Meaning: To save or accumulate wealth, often in a selfish or sneaky way.
In a Sentence: He’s been feathering his nest for years, taking extra bonuses no one knew about.
Other Ways to Say: Build up wealth, Save for oneself
23. Living like a king
Meaning: Living a life of luxury and comfort.
In a Sentence: With all his success, he’s now living like a king in a mansion with private chefs.
Other Ways to Say: Living lavishly, Royal lifestyle
24. Money coming out of one’s ears
Meaning: Having more money than needed.
In a Sentence: Ever since she went viral, she’s had money coming out of her ears from endorsements.
Other Ways to Say: Overflowing with money, Surplus wealth
25. Make a killing
Meaning: To earn a large amount of money quickly and with little effort.
In a Sentence: He made a killing flipping real estate during the housing boom.
Other Ways to Say: Huge profit, Big success
26. Live in clover
Meaning: To live a comfortable and wealthy life.
In a Sentence: They’ve been living in clover since they sold their startup for millions.
Other Ways to Say: Easy life, Wealthy lifestyle
27. Fat cat
Meaning: A wealthy and powerful person, especially in business or politics.
In a Sentence: The fat cats of Wall Street rarely worry about economic downturns.
Other Ways to Say: Rich executive, Powerful elite
28. Gold-plated
Meaning: Made to seem luxurious or expensive, often unnecessarily.
In a Sentence: Their gold-plated bathroom taps scream wealth, but they’re kind of over-the-top.
Other Ways to Say: Flashy, Extravagant
29. Dressed to the nines
Meaning: Wearing very fancy or expensive clothes.
In a Sentence: She was dressed to the nines for the gala in a custom designer gown.
Other Ways to Say: Elegantly dressed, Fancy attire
30. Get rich quick
Meaning: To make a lot of money in a short time, often with risky methods.
In a Sentence: He got caught up in a get-rich-quick scheme and ended up losing everything.
Other Ways to Say: Fast wealth, Risky money plan
31. On the gravy train
Meaning: Earning easy money with little effort.
In a Sentence: After joining that cushy government contract, he’s been riding the gravy train ever since.
Other Ways to Say: Easy income, Effortless earnings
32. Have it made
Meaning: To be in a very good financial or life situation.
In a Sentence: With her booming business and flexible schedule, she really has it made.
Other Ways to Say: In a perfect spot, Living the dream
33. Cash-rich
Meaning: Having a lot of available money or liquidity.
In a Sentence: The company is cash-rich and looking to buy out smaller competitors.
Other Ways to Say: Financially liquid, Money on hand
34. King’s ransom
Meaning: A huge amount of money.
In a Sentence: They paid a king’s ransom for that rare piece of art.
Other Ways to Say: Enormous price, Fortune
35. Fat bank account
Meaning: A bank account with a lot of money in it.
In a Sentence: Thanks to years of investing wisely, he now enjoys a fat bank account and early retirement.
Other Ways to Say: Wealthy savings, Hefty balance
36. Like money grows on trees
Meaning: Spending money freely, as if it’s unlimited.
In a Sentence: You can’t keep buying sneakers like money grows on trees!
Other Ways to Say: Careless spender, Overspending habit
37. Sitting pretty
Meaning: In a good, safe, or profitable position.
In a Sentence: With two income streams and no debt, they’re sitting pretty right now.
Other Ways to Say: Secure financially, In a great position
38. Strike gold
Meaning: To find success or wealth unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: They struck gold with their eco-friendly product line—it sold out in days.
Other Ways to Say: Find fortune, Lucky success
39. Nest egg
Meaning: Saved money for the future, usually for retirement or emergencies.
In a Sentence: He’s been building a nest egg for years to ensure a comfortable retirement.
Other Ways to Say: Savings, Financial cushion
40. Living the dream
Meaning: Living an ideal or luxurious life.
In a Sentence: With his dream job and oceanfront home, he’s definitely living the dream.
Other Ways to Say: Ideal lifestyle, Dream scenario
41. Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To earn money to support oneself or a family.
In a Sentence: Ever since she landed that high-paying tech job, she’s been bringing home the bacon in a big way.
Other Ways to Say: Earn a living, Provide financially
42. A gold mine
Meaning: A source of great wealth, benefit, or success.
In a Sentence: That forgotten blog post turned out to be a gold mine after going viral and attracting sponsors.
Other Ways to Say: Lucrative opportunity, Wealth source
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks:
- He struck it _______ when he invested in that startup before it exploded in popularity.
- Ever since they sold their app, they’ve been living high on the _______.
- That rare comic book might be worth a _______—you should check it out.
- With her three side hustles, she’s definitely raking in the _______.
- He’s got champagne _______ on a beer budget and keeps maxing out his credit card.
- That small fashion blog turned into a cash _______ overnight.
- You’re spending like money grows on _______—slow down!
- After signing that contract, she was sitting pretty with a _______ bank account.
- He brings home the _______ while she runs the household and manages the kids.
- That old warehouse turned into a gold _______ when they rented it out for events.
Answers:
rich, hog, fortune, money, taste, cow, trees, fat, bacon, mine
Conclusion
Idioms about wealth don’t just make conversations fun—they give you a better way to express ideas about success, money, and financial status. Whether you’re talking about a millionaire entrepreneur, someone who just hit the jackpot, or dreaming of your own future riches, these idioms bring sparkle and personality to your language.
The more you hear and use them, the more natural they’ll feel. Try sprinkling a few of these into your chats, essays, or jokes—you might just sound like you’re rolling in cleverness. Remember, language is your treasure chest, and idioms are the gold coins inside. Keep collecting them, keep practicing, and you’ll always be rich in words.
