Do All Women Want A “Trust Fund, 6’5, Blue Eyes” Hunk?

When influencer Megan Boni shared her song of the summer, it pretty much went ballistic. Chances are you've sung the lyrics repeatedly yourself: "I'm looking for a man in finance; trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes."

To say that Boni’s bop went viral is an understatement. Her video reached over 30 million views, and several EDM producers and DJs have taken to clubs to spin their versions, including David Guetta, Alesso, Loud Luxury, and Billen Ted. Boni’s reaction to all of this is what every viral star can relate to. “I just thought it would be funny to make a video making fun of those single girls who are always complaining about being single,” she said, “but yet they want an impossible laundry list of things in a boyfriend, and by the way, that’s myself included.”

After gaining immense traction, Boni’s friend, her music manager Amanda Rovitz, and entertainment lawyer Todd Rubenstein had the influencer on phone calls with record labels. Countless news and think pieces were written about the song, including Vogue’s “‘Trust Fund, 6’5, Blue Eyes’ or Otherwise, Men in Finance Are Apparently Hot Again,” in which the author writes about her shock to learn that finance guys are attractive to women. The reason for her surprise? Men in finance are often portrayed in a negative light (and she's right). Finance bros are typically depicted as villains or morally dubious characters – think American Psycho or The Wolf of Wall Street. These characters are not seen as desirable partners despite their wealth and power.

While I enjoyed the piece, I believe it's where our perceptions as media consumers often fail. Movies rarely reflect real life, especially regarding the dynamics between men and women. While plenty of films have been made about rich, immoral men, that doesn't mean they're not desirable to women in real life. The truth is that a lot of women have always wanted a partner who could support them.

Evolutionary psychologists argue that women choose a mate who can provide resources and protection, thus increasing the likelihood of survival and reproductive success for women and their children. Men's roles as providers and protectors are, as we know, not a modern phenomenon at all but a role that has been observed in many cultures and time periods. Lastly, given the state of our economy at the moment, it makes sense why a growing number of younger women want a "man in finance.” To be clear, this doesn’t mean men exclusively in finance, but individuals who are financially well off. 

In 2022, researchers scanned 1.8 million dating app profiles from 24 countries and found that there are women all over the world who desire this. “A lot of people like to believe this is just a stereotype – but we find it across all cultures in studies dating back to the 1980s, which tells us it’s real,” Swansea University lecturer Andrew George Thomas, who also specializes in evolutionary psychology, said.

“Humans appear to have a preference for money and wealth in a partner, not because we have ‘evolved money preferences’ but because these things act as modern cues of a more general trait: the ability to secure resources like food, shelter, tools, and protection,” he explained in Psychology Today. However, Dr. Thomas noted that men have preferences as well and are generally attracted to younger and more physically attractive women as these traits signal fertility and the potential for healthy offspring. 

There’s no doubt that a growing number of Gen Z women want wealthy men. They’re inspired by relationships where men are financially well off and women are attractive, but there's a twist. Traditional roles in these relationships are often more balanced, with household and work responsibilities split 50/50. Influencer and model Nara Smith, who married a top-paid male model named Lucky Blue Smith, was dubbed a “tradwife” by the media. She denied being one this year, stating that her husband does a lot of the chores and even cooks. While she is a stay-at-home mom to three kids, she still profits from her cooking videos on TikTok and modeling jobs. 

So, while the allure of a "man in finance" remains palpable, it's not the sole aspiration for many women. Some girls are willing to work, too, and desire a more equal marriage. Not every girl is looking for a "man in finance." This is evident in the song's satire, which lists ridiculously high standards. There's a reason why Boni hilariously chose "trust fund," which the majority of men don't have, and 6'5" rather than the average height of 5'9". Women know that, deep down, it's not realistic – it may be a dream, but not the end game. The reason why there's such a huge gender divide on social media is that people have been fooled into narrowing their desired mate into a "listicle" when relationships are more complex and nuanced.

And just like films portray men in finance as terrible people, Hollywood doesn't portray the realities of the dating market. TikTok falls into this trap as well, only highlighting what's cool or "fashionable." Anytime a breadwinner girl shows videos of her stay-at-home boyfriend who provides by cooking, taking care of the home, and other homemaking responsibilities, she gets made fun of.

The reality isn't always trendy, and it may not show in movies or social media, but I see more women seeking genuine connection, loyalty, and high emotional intelligence over material wealth. In a dating market saturated with situationships and a lack of masculinity, there are millions of young women who simply want a man who’s there for them and loves and respects them.

One woman named Gabby recently shared her version of Boni’s song on TikTok, garnering 50,000 likes. “I’m looking for a man who listens,” she sang as she looked exasperated, “any height, any guy.”

Evie deserves to be heard. Support our cause and help women reclaim their femininity by subscribing today.