The woman, who posted an ad on the New York Craigslist was looking for advice on the best way to acquire a husband who made, at minimum, more than $500,000 a year. This may seem like a large sum, but on Wall Street, where bankers can earn yearly bonuses of up to $10 million, an annual salary of more than a half of a million dollars, while not exactly common, is not unheard of, either.
I know how that sounds, said the woman in her ad, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I do not think I am overreaching at all. I dated a business man who makes average around 200-250, but thats where I seem to hit a roadblock. $235,000 will not get me into Central Park West. The woman went on to describe herself as both spectacularly beautiful, and superficial.
The ad was answered by a so called mystery banker who claimed to fit the qualifications, and offered the anonymous woman some advice, after describing her proposition as a plain and simple a crappy business deal.
Your looks will fade, he said, in an online response to her posting. And my money will continue into perpetuity and in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you will not be getting any more beautiful!
So in economic terms, he continued, you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Let me explain, you are 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!
A report that a banker from JPMorgan Chase was responsible for the ad posting responses has been dismissed by the bank as an error. According to Brian Marchiony, spokesman for JPMorgan Chase, a bankers email signature became accidentally attached to the ad and responses when he forwarded them on to his friends.
A spokeswoman for Craigslist told the New York Times that the posting and responses, both of which have since been removed, looked as if they were made sincerely.
According to the InternetDatingGuide website, 30 percent of all Americans have used an online matchmaking site or service in the past year. 10 percent of these people reported that posting ads on sites like Craigslist also figured into their online date seeking.
