How To Land A Rich Man

Apparently the entire feminist movement was some sort of hoax.

Or so the recent rash of dating gurus and their controversial guidebooks on landing a rich guy would have you believe. Never mind equality, these women want money--and lots of it.

With burning bras a distant memory, these shameless women have authored books, offer seminars and even give private lessons on how to snag a moneyed man. They offer the where-to's and how-to's that can help unlock the marital bank without doing, well, anything--flirting not withstanding.

"Why not make it yourself?" critics often ask Ginie Polo Sayles, author of How to Marry Rich. Her response: "You can, but you can do it faster with a man."

Leidra Lawson, author of Sugar Daddy 101: What You Need to Know If You Want to Be a Sugar Baby, is just as blunt. "Personally, I love to work," she says. "But I also like to know I can go shopping or go on vacation without having to save up money for it."

If it sounds mercenary, that's because it is. But it's also nothing new. "We're genetically programmed to go after successful men," explains Lisa Johnson, author of How to Snare a Millionaire. "All the way back to caveman days, women had to mate with the best hunters, gatherers and providers for the propagation of our species."

Not all women are convinced money is the brass ring: "It is good fortune if the person you love--male or female--happens to have money," says Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. "It's a wonderful thing, and it can certainly make life better and open opportunities for you and your children. But it's a real mistake to think that money can buy love or happiness. It can't."

But according to University of Virginia sociologists Bradford Wilcox and Steven Nock, co-authors of the study "What's Love Got to Do With It? Equality, Equity, Commitment and Women's Marital Quality." American wives are typically happier when their husbands earn the lion's share of the household income.

"Our study suggests that women who take a man's wealth into consideration when dating are likely to be happier down the line," explains Wilcox.

Of course, finding that big-time breadwinner is not as easy as it sounds. It's all about knowing how and where to search. Enter the gurus with their sage advice.

"You'll need to upgrade where you go," advises Sayles.

"Hang out where the wealthy do," echoes Johnson. That means drinking at their bars (think five-star hotels), dining at their restaurants (super high-end, of course) and playing their sports (golf, anyone?).

Another sure bet for Anna Nicole Smith-wannabes: charity events. Johnson says there's no need to donate the big bucks. Just sign up as a volunteer--you'll get a sneak peek at the guest list, an invite to the party and a free pass to mingle with the moneyed.

Just one more tip from the gurus of the gold rush: Flirting and fawning are fine, but don't discuss bank accounts.

Reprinted From Forbes

The Gold Digger's Guide: How To Marry The Man And The Money