Does Money Make People More Beautiful?

Today's topic is an interesting one- and a little controversial.

Beauty may be “in the eye of the beholder,” but in a capitalist world, that beholder might be a credit card machine. Let’s be honest: money and beauty have always been intertwined. From Cleopatra bathing in donkey milk to billionaires’ wives spending on facials that cost more than a used car, wealth has a funny way of polishing appearances. 

The question is: does money actually make people more beautiful or just better at faking it?

Answer: it’s complicated.

The Obvious Answer: Grooming, Skincare, and the Magic of Money

Money buys access to dermatologists, cosmetic dentists, high-end haircuts, and personal trainers. Research from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that cosmetic procedures—everything from Botox to laser resurfacing—have skyrocketed over the last two decades, most of them inaccessible to lower-income groups. Smooth skin and straight teeth don’t happen by accident; they’re often a product of wealth.

Consider skincare: a 30ml bottle of La Mer costs $260. A basic drugstore moisturizer costs $6. Both hydrate skin, but one comes with luxe packaging, prestige science, and arguably better results. When you scale that difference across an entire routine- serums, facials, supplements- money absolutely buys an edge.

Fitness and the Luxury of Time

There’s another less obvious advantage: time. Beauty isn’t just lotions and potions—it’s sleep, exercise, and diet. Studies consistently show that adequate sleep improves attractiveness (dark circles and dull skin are not “glowing” by anyone’s standard). Wealth buys flexibility: fewer night shifts, fewer commutes, and more opportunities for rest.

Then there’s fitness. Gym memberships, personal trainers, boutique Pilates classes, nutritionists—all come at a cost. A 2022 UK study showed that people with higher socioeconomic status reported exercising 50% more per week compared to lower-income groups. That extra effort translates directly into toned bodies, upright posture, and the kind of “glow” you can’t fake with foundation.

Dental Privilege: Smiles as a 'Status Symbol'

Want to see wealth? Look at teeth. Straight, white teeth are arguably the clearest marker of privilege in the modern world. Orthodontics and whitening treatments cost thousands; in countries without universal dental care, they’re out of reach for many. A crooked smile doesn’t just affect aesthetics—it subconsciously signals class. Studies show people with whiter teeth are judged as more attractive, healthier, and even more employable. Money, quite literally, buys a better smile.

Health Is Beauty, and Health Is Expensive

“Healthy is beautiful” isn’t just a slogan for wellness influencers- it’s biological. Clear skin, shiny hair, bright eyes, and good muscle tone all reflect underlying health. But health itself is often tied to wealth.

A Harvard study found that high-income groups live on average 10–15 years longer than low-income groups. Why? Better healthcare access, healthier diets, safer housing, and less exposure to pollutants. Wealth cushions you from the daily wear-and-tear of stress, malnutrition, and illness—all of which show up on your face and body. Poverty ages you faster. Wealth lets you age gracefully.

Psychological Beauty: Confidence Sells

Here’s where things get controversial: sometimes money doesn’t even need to change your looks—it just changes how you carry them. Studies in social psychology show that confidence is consistently rated as attractive. If wealth makes you feel powerful, desirable, or in control, that energy radiates.

Think about luxury fashion. A Chanel jacket doesn’t change your bone structure, but it changes how you walk into a room. Expensive clothes act as “status signals,” tapping into evolutionary psychology: people subconsciously associate status with good genes and reproductive fitness. Translation: wealth can literally make your average outfit look like a statement.

But Here’s the Twist: Money Can Also Make People Uglier

This is where the narrative gets juicy. Money can distort beauty just as easily as it enhances it.

1. Overdoing cosmetic procedures – Wealthy individuals have more access to fillers, lifts, and “tweakments.” But too much of a good thing leads to “pillow face,” frozen expressions, and uncanny-valley results. The rich can afford beauty, but they can also afford to ruin it.

2. Lifestyle excess – Money can fund indulgence: champagne, cigarettes, late-night parties. Excess alcohol accelerates skin aging, smoking causes wrinkles, and high-sugar diets inflame skin. Sometimes, wealth is a backstage pass to early decay.

3. Arrogance and detachment – Beauty isn’t only skin deep; it’s also about warmth, kindness, and relatability. Arrogance, entitlement, or aloofness—all traits money can fuel—are universally unattractive.

Cultural Capital: When “Expensive” Becomes a Look

Beauty ideals are not universal—they’re socially constructed. And wealth has the power to define them. In many cultures, tanned skin once meant “field labor” and pale skin meant wealth. Today, the opposite is true: tans signify leisure, holidays, and freedom to spend time outdoors.

Similarly, body types shift with economics. In wealthier societies, slimness is prized because it implies discipline, personal trainers, and access to healthy food. In poorer societies, plumpness can still symbolize abundance. What counts as “beautiful” often maps directly onto what money can afford.

The Subconscious Bias: Money Equals Beauty

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: society conflates money and attractiveness, even when physical differences are minimal. A 2016 Princeton study found that people rated individuals as more attractive when told they were wealthy, regardless of actual appearance. In other words, wealth is like an Instagram filter—it changes perception, not the photo.

Beauty Hacks Without the Billions

Of course, money isn’t the only route to beauty. Sleep, hydration, exercise, and good hygiene are free or inexpensive. Confidence, kindness, and humor often outweigh perfect cheekbones. And social media has democratized access to beauty “secrets”—a HK$60 moisturizer can go viral for outperforming luxury creams. The playing field isn’t level, but it’s not entirely closed either.

So...Does Money Make People More Beautiful?

The uncomfortable answer: yes, mostly. 

Wealth provides the tools, time, and treatments to polish, preserve, and project beauty. From glowing skin to confident body language, money oils the machinery of attractiveness.

But beauty bought by money is fragile—it can slip into excess, arrogance, or artificiality. Real beauty still depends on balance: health, confidence, personality, and restraint. Money can make you more beautiful, but it doesn’t guarantee it.

Final Thoughts

Maybe the real question isn’t “does money make people more beautiful?” but “why do we equate beauty with wealth in the first place?” If attractiveness is tied to privilege, then what we call “natural beauty” is often just well-funded beauty. 

And perhaps the ugliest truth is that in a world obsessed with appearances, beauty has never really been about the beholder—it’s been about the bank balance.