Stone Cold Fox

Though many works of literature center around the wealthier classes, Stone Cold Fox distinguishes between “old” and “new” money as a focal point of the narrative. “Old money” is specifically the wealth of families or groups that has persisted through inheritance over multiple generations. When a person from the lower or middle class achieves remarkable wealth, such as in technology or finance in the novel, they have what is called “new money,” as it was accumulated recently. Old money, on the other hand, has accumulated over time to become larger than most people would be able to achieve in a lifetime, forming what many consider to be a form of aristocracy in the United States. Because the accumulation of money is often tied to power, and a large enough supply of money can prevent decreases in social standing and mobility, old money has become a symbol of lasting social nobility, much as the inherited titles of other countries have served to maintain a family’s standing.

Notable examples of these different types of wealth include the Byrd family, which accumulated wealth during the colonial period of the United States’s history, lasting well into the 20th century in both finance and politics, which is an example of old money.