Jump to content

Nouveau riche

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Altenmann (talk | contribs) at 16:17, 26 June 2005 (cat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Nouveau riche ( Fr. "newly rich") is a term, usually derogatory, to describe persons who acquire wealth within their generation, and spend it conspicuously. The implication is that, being of lower- or middle-class origin, these individuals lack the taste to properly use wealth. Hence, this class of people is sometimes ill-regarded by old money as culturally inferior, comparatively lacking in pedigree and subtlety.

The concept of "nouveau riche" is exemplified by many American celebrities. A notable example is Elvis Presley and his Graceland estate. Fictional examples of "nouveau riche" include Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby and Rodney Dangerfield's character in Caddyshack .

See also