How to Look Rich Without Being Rich (for Guys)

Last Updated: August 4, 2021 References

Even if you don't have a lot of money, there's a lot of things you can do to look rich to other people. Looking rich will earn you more respect from people. You can look rich by taking care of your body properly, wearing great looking clothes and accessories, and by acting like you have all the money in the world.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Grooming Yourself to Look Rich

1
Get a nice haircut. If you have shaggy, messy hair, you won't look rich to other people. Shop around in the local neighborhood or search online to find a good, inexpensive barber. Ask the barber for a tidy trim.^{[1]
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- If you like having longer hair, brush it back or use gel to style it.
- You shouldn't have to spend more than $20 on your haircut.
2
Style your hair and comb it every day. If you just wake up and leave the house without touching your hair in the morning, you won't look rich to people. Use gel or other hair products to style your hair. Comb your hair to make it look neat and tidy.^{[2]
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- Neat, styled hair will make you look rich more than untouched, messy hair.
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3
Rub moisturizer onto your face and body. Moisturizer will not only keep you looking younger, it will also help you look wealthy. Rich people can afford to see dermatologists and have skincare injections all the time. Frequent use of moisturizer will keep your skin soft and supple.^{[3]
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- Any moisturizer for men should do the trick.
- Don't spend more than $20 on a bottle or tub of moisturizer.
4
Buy a teeth whitening kit. A hallmark of being rich is having incredibly white teeth that almost look they're glowing. You probably can't afford to go to the dentist often enough to make your teeth look that white, but you can use a teeth whitening kit. You can find a teeth whitening kit at your local pharmacy, supermarket, or online.^{[4]
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- The more you pay for your teeth whitening kit, the more effective it will be. The best kits on the market go for $100 or so. If you're on a tight budget, you can get a kit for between $20 and $40.
- Remember to brush your teeth and floss frequently as well. There's only so much the whitening kit can do.
5
Keep your beard trimmed if you have a beard. The longer and longer you let your beard grow, the smaller your chances are of appearing to be wealthy. Keep your beard clean and neat looking. Don't let it grow too long. Wash your beard with beard shampoo to make your hair look healthy.^{[5]
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- If you struggle to grow a full beard, stay clean-shaven.
6
Use a sunbed or get a spray tan. All rich people seem to have permanently sun-kissed glowing skin. This is probably because they frequently go for holidays to places with hot climates. Sunbeds and spray tans allow you to get that same skin color without having to pay for an expensive flight abroad.^{[6]
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- A spray tan is better for you than a sunbed. If you do use sunbeds, use them in moderation.
- Expect to pay no more than $25 for a session on a sunbed or a spray tan.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Dressing to Look Rich

1
Avoid wearing clothes with logos on them. Rich men tend to wear t-shirts that are solid colors, with no logos or writing on the front. The clothes you wear should be plain with minimal branding or other writing on them.
- It's okay to wear shoes with logos on them, especially runners or sneakers as you'll be hard pressed to find a pair of these shoes without a logo,
2
Dress smart and for the occasion. Only wear shorts to the beach or when shopping. Instead of always wearing T-shirts, try wearing men's plaid shirts over jeans or khakis. In more formal circumstances, wear a jacket over your shirt. Dress up in a dress suit once in a while. Go for the business, business casual or/and preppy look.^{[7]
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- Wear a casual suit as often as possible. Casual suits are less tailored and less formal in their design. Don't wear a tie with a casual suit.
- Wear a nice, solid colored tie if you're wearing a shirt and suit trousers.
3
Wear clothes that fit properly.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.} Rich men have stylists or shop at fancy, expensive clothing stores where the employees ensure the clothes fit perfectly. Baggy clothes look sloppy and can make you look unkempt. Clothing that's too tight will be uncomfortable and won't look nice to other people.^{[9]
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- If you have the money, go to a tailor and get your clothes tailored for a better fit.^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Tincher
  Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
  Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
- When buying clothes, try a few different sizes on beforehand to find the size that fits you best.
- Sort through your clothes and get rid of everything that you haven't worn in a long time and all the clothes that don't fit. Put the clothes in a bag and donate them to a charity shop.
4
Iron, clean, and look after your clothes. If you take good care of your clothes, they'll last longer and look better. A simple iron can do wonders to a wrinkled shirt. Store your shirts and jackets on hangers and fold your pants before you place them in your wardrobe.
- Buy the highest quality clothes that you can afford. Avoid buying knock-offs as they're often poorly designed and made.
5
Get plenty of pairs of shoes and wear them in rotation. If you only have 2 or 3 pairs of shoes, chances are that they'll all be worn and will look old after a while. Buy as many shoes as you can in as many different styles. Try to avoid wearing the same shoes more than 2 days in a row. If you're constantly wearing different types of shoes, people will think you're rich.
- Take good care of your shoes, particularly if they're leather, so they'll last longer.^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Natalie Tincher
  Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
  Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.}
- Have a quality pair of dress shoes, trainers, canvas shoes, casual loafers, and desert boots.
- Shop around online to find sales. You can find good quality, inexpensive shoes on the internet.
6
Find an expensive looking watch. You don't need to own an expensive watch to look rich, the watch just needs to look expensive. You can go to the local jewelry store in your town and ask if they're selling any second hand watches in good condition.^{[12]
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- Search online marketplace websites to find watches that look expensive for cheap prices.
- Check the seller's feedback rating before you buy.
7
Replace your wallet with a card case. Rich people rarely carry cash with them but they do carry credit and debit cards. A card case is essentially a wallet for card storage. Card cases have no section to store cash. Buying a card case and storing your cards in it is a simple thing you can do to look wealthy.
- You will still need to carry cash around with you, so keep your wallet. Store it in your jacket pocket or another place it won't be seen.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Acting Like You're Rich

1
Be more confident in interacting with people. The popular phrase "fake it 'till you make it" is a good motto to live your life by. Even if you don't feel confident, try to act like you are. Smile more when you talk to people, walk with your head held high, and make eye contact with other people.
- There's a fine line between being confident and being cocky. Be nice to people and never treat them as if they're beneath you.
2
Use good manners when interacting with people. Rich people tend to be nice to the people they meet throughout the day. If somebody holds a door open for you, thank them. Say "please" when you order food at a restaurant. If you're trying to move past somebody in a busy shop, say "excuse me."
- Manners will go a long way to getting other people to think you're rich.
3
Work out at the gym and stay in shape. Rich people tend to have lots of time to go to the gym. A good physique is a sign that a person is financially secure enough to spend a large part of their time getting fit. The fitter you get, the healthier and richer you'll start to look.
- There's no need to join the most expensive gym in your town. Find a good gym with a special offer for new members and sign up.
- The best time to join a gym is around Christmas and New Year. Gyms try to capitalize on people's New Years Resolutions at this time and offer massive deals on membership.
4
Drive a nice car if you have the money. This is possibly the most expensive thing you can do in your effort to look rich. Cars are a status symbol and there's a big difference between the type of car the typical rich person drives and the type of car everyone else drives.^{[13]
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- Scout second-hand car dealerships in your town to find a deal on an expensive car.
- No matter what car you drive, keep it clean and well maintained. Don't leave garbage in the car and use the car wash at least 2 times a month. Rich people would not drive around in a dirty car.
- Look online to see if anyone in the local area is selling a great car for a cheap price.
5
Make friends with rich people by joining clubs. If you surround yourself with other rich people, chances are that other people will think you're rich too. Golf clubs and tennis clubs are great places to mix and develop relationships with rich people.
- Golf is typically a lot more expensive to get into than tennis. If you're on a budget, join the tennis club to meet rich people.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I look rich without spending a lot?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. With more than 10 years of experience, Natalie specializes in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer
Question

How can I make my clothes look more expensive?

Natalie Tincher
Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist
Natalie Tincher is the Owner and Principal Style Strategist of BU Style. With more than 10 years of experience, Natalie specializes in personal styling to reflect clients’ individuality, confidence, and comfort. In 2019, she was named the Global Head of Styling for Bloomberg Television. Natalie is certified in Image Consulting through the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly shares her expertise with corporate groups at major financial institutions, media companies, and news outlets including: Time Out New York, Refinery 29, and NBC News.

Natalie Tincher

Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist

Expert Answer

Wearing clothes that fit properly will go a long way in making them look more expensive. If your clothes don't already fit well, consider getting them tailored to your specific measurements.
Question

I wear specs and I don't want them to be removed. What do I do? Also, I want to keep a beard as it looks nice, what kind of beard should be kept?

Community Answer

Maybe you could get a new pair of glasses that look really preppy, like the classic rimmed ones. As for the beard, as long as it's well-groomed you should be fine.