For the readers of Notorious Mag, think of Old Money as the impeccably aged bottle of Bordeaux wine, tucked away in the cellars of a stately manor, exuding a refined aura of time-honoured elegance. They’re the kind who’d take afternoon tea as seriously as a board meeting, where a “summer home” usually means a centuries-old château in the French Riviera. Their family crest probably predates the invention of the telephone. Now, enter New Money – they’re the bubbly, effervescent Prosecco at the most happening rooftop party in town. Fresh on the scene, with the shimmer of a just-unwrapped luxury sports car, they bring to the table the audacity of neon in a world of pastels. Their idea of old might be a first-generation iPhone, and they’re as likely to invest in crypto as they are in couture. Each has its charm, mind you. Old Money is a serene waltz under a chandelier, while New Money is the beat-drop at Coachella. Both fabulous, just in their own signature ways. Cheers!
Do you think we can tell if you’re Old Money or New Money? Or New Money trying to pass off as Old Money? Take our quiz, darling.
How popular do you want to be?
- 1 – I want to have 100k followers on Instagram and be the queen of TikTok.
- 2 – I want to get a table at The Polo Bar in New York City.
- 3 – I want to be greeted by name at my neighbourhood’s cantina.
We know you’re old money or new money if your favourite handbag is
- 1- The newest designer bag, as long as the logo is big and loud.
- 2 – Any bag Instagrammers are carrying.
- 3 – Grandmother’s Croco bag.
Your favourite weekend spot is
- 1- Anywhere I can get a selfie with celebrities for my Instagram.
- 2 – An old castle turned into a fancy hotel.
- 3 – My family’s home is in the countryside.
You are old money if your sport is
- 1 – Going boat or car racing.
- 2 – Playing football, rugby or running.
- 3 – Playing polo, golf, tennis or sailing. Should we consider Bridge a sport?
How old is your favourite jacket?
- 1- I’ve just bought it as soon as the latest collection hit the stores.
- 2 – I’ve bought it for sale last year.
- 3 – I have no idea, it was mother’s.
What car do you drive and how old is it?
- 1 – I only drive brand-new sports cars.
- 2 – I drive a vintage collector’s car.
- 3 – I can’t remember, but it’s still running fine.
You are new money if at the restaurant
- 1- I order the most expensive wine because it must be the best one.
- 2 – I choose the wine I saw in my wine-tasting course so that I can talk extensively, like a connoisseur, about the bouquet, taste and aftertaste, texture, weight, structure, etc.
- 3 – I always drink my family or friends’ wine.
How often do you buy jewellery?
- 1 – So often I don’t keep track of that.
- 2 – I need to wear jewellery on special occasions so I buy some once in a while.
- 3 – Does one buy jewellery?
When asked where’s your family’s street
- 1 – Because my family doesn’t own a street, I feel offended and plan to buy an entire village to name the streets after myself.
- 2 – I wonder why they want to know my parent’s address.
- 3 – I wonder whether they talking about the family on my mother’s or my father’s side.
Where do you eat when you go to Royal Ascot?
- 1 – I have lunch at the Norfolk Restaurant in the Royal Enclosure, the second sitting, naturally.
- 2 – I have sandwiches at the Coffee Corner of the Grandstand.
- 3 – I have a picnic with friends, which I may order from Fortnum and Mason or bring from home, next to my car in the Royal Enclosure’s Car Park One.
When taking our Old Money, New Money quiz, you think
- 1 – It is offensive and classist, and I am never going to read Notorious again.
- 2 – I think hard to know which is the best answer to choose.
- 3 – I find it fun and utterly silly, as any good quiz should be.
Our quiz score:
- 10 points for answer 1.
- 5 points for answer 2.
- 1 point for answer 3.
11 – 26: You are so Old Money nobody knows exactly how much you’re worth. As a matter of fact, nobody even knows if you still have money at all.
27 – 70: You’re working hard to look like you were born into wealth, but you still feel the need to let people know you have money, which ruins your attempt at passing off as Old Money. Don’t worry, nothing that one or two generations cannot fix.
71 – 110: Your money is so new the ink is not even dry on it. You flaunt your wealth with flashy cars, big diamonds and expensive clothes, and you like it.
Share your result and our link on Facebook if you got Old Money. If not, wait a few years and try our quiz again.
Photos via Shutterstock.