Nearly half of Gen Z would pick money over love, survey finds

Leave the fiancé, take the 401k.

A stunning 46% of Gen Zers would pick long-term financial stability over romance, and close to 1 in 3 said they’d even take a former partner back if that ex got rich, according to a new dating survey by matchmaking service Tawkify.

“Money equals safety, security and freedom,” Brie Temple, Tawkify’s CCO and chief matchmaker, told The Post. “Taking an ex back because they got rich isn’t just about the bank account. It’s about what that wealth symbolizes: security, ambition and maybe a sense that they’ve ‘leveled up’ since the breakup.”

The June 2025 survey asked 1,000 Americans about how money shapes dating today. Gen Xers were the most financially cautious, with 52% saying they’d choose money over love — but Gen Z wasn’t far behind.

They’ve got a number in mind, too: 1 in 10 Gen Z women say their ideal match should be making $200,000 or more, and most won’t settle for anything under $80,000.

By contrast, Millennials were the most love-struck: 59% said they’d rather have a “broke and magical” relationship than one with financial security.

And across the larger population, about 63% of Americans said they’d marry for love, even if it meant a lifetime of financial struggle.

Still, for many daters, love has a limit — and a minimum salary. Nearly half of Gen Z, 46%, said they wouldn’t date someone who’s unemployed, even if they were attracted to them, a factor that beat out political differences as a dealbreaker.

Today’s singles of all ages care about more than just income, they’re sizing up spending habits, savings goals and long-term financial compatibility, Temple told The Post.

“We’re asking more about how people handle money, what kind of lifestyle they want and how they see their future,” she said. “Even if two people really get along, different views on finances can cause problems later.”

Nearly 70% of respondents across all generations said they’ve stayed in relationships longer than they should have because of shared finances, with a quarter noting the relationship was long-term.

Gen Z’s mindset is shaped by years of economic instability, including the aftermath of the 2008 recession, ballooning student debt and pandemic-era job losses, said Marisa Cohen, a Long Island-based marriage and family therapist.

“The pressure to focus on finances likely feels so urgent because of the economic uncertainty Gen Z has dealt with through most of their lives,” she told The Post. “Being tied to a relationship in which there is financial insecurity or uncertainty may compete with their own personal goals and pursuits.”

And money talk now happens earlier and can make or break a connection, said Damona Hoffman, a certified dating coach and author of “F the Fairy Tale: Rewrite the Dating Myths and Live Your Own Love Story.”

“Daters are terrified of partnering with someone who has bad credit or unmanaged debt,” she said. “You could have a fancy car, a nice apartment and put your dates on credit cards but be sitting on mounds of high-interest loans.”

Still, Gen Z hasn’t totally ruled out romance. A slim majority, 54%, said they’d still choose a “broke and magical” relationship over one that’s rich and lifeless.

“Gen Z is dating with their eyes wide open,” Temple said. “They still want love but only when it fits into a life that feels secure, balanced and true to who they are.”