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Nouveau riche (Fr. “new 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 use wealth properly. Hence, this class of people is sometimes ill-regarded by old money as culturally inferior, comparatively lacking in pedigree and subtlety.
The benchmark of the nouveau riche is their acquiring possessions which are touted to them as being the sort of things that rich people would possess. “Old money” in traditional European societies have inherited a large house filled with well-built furniture acquired over the centuries. Their cars are not necessarily the most expensive and capable, but have a bit of restraint, or else they disguise their social position in cars of the middle rank. During the Great Depression, Chryslers, for example, were sold to such people for this reason. They fit within a social milieu in which everyone knows everyone else and has for generations. The nouveau riche in essence try to crash this party by buying everything they need to show that they have money not merely within one generation but within a few years.
The concept of nouveau riche is exemplified by many celebrities. Notable examples are Elvis Presley and his Graceland estate and rich criminal-related personalities; Victoria Gotti and her family. The MTV reality television program Cribs is an example of many nouveau riche celebrities displaying their homes to the public, however some social observers find that the celebrities, mostly rappers and sports stars, on that show exemplify the term Nigger rich.
Fictional examples of nouveau riche include Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby and Rodney Dangerfield’s character in Caddyshack. An example of this term taken to the farcical extreme is Steve Martin’s character from The Jerk.
Many people who learned French prior to English attempt to translate the phrase as “new rich” when speaking English. This translation is neither necessary nor colloquial.
See also
"Nouveau riche"