Why We Love Billionaires (Even Though We'd Probably Hate Dating One)
Written by Summer Sinclair
The Summer Sinclair Romance Files
Part 1 of 6: Why We Love Billionaires (Even Though We'd Probably Hate Dating One)
Hello lovely readers,
I spend an unreasonable amount of my working life in the company of extremely wealthy, devastatingly handsome men who are accustomed to getting exactly what they want.
It's a lovely job, really.
Although I sometimes wonder how long I'd last in a real relationship with one of them.
Alejandro would probably try to reorganise my finances. Lucas would schedule my life in fifteen-minute increments. Mateo would attempt to negotiate his way out of an argument, and Diego would probably buy me a yacht when all I wanted was a cup of tea and someone to empty the dishwasher.
And yet, I adore them.
Apparently, so do a great many romance readers.
Which raises an interesting question.
What exactly is it about billionaire romance that we find so irresistible?
The fantasy, obviously
Let's not pretend the money isn't part of the attraction.
There's something delicious about stepping into a world where ordinary problems simply cease to exist.
No worrying about the electricity bill. No checking whether the restaurant is within budget. No squeezing into an economy airline seat beside someone who believes armrests are a human right.
Instead, there are private jets, spectacular villas, impossibly expensive clothes and dinner reservations that ordinary mortals couldn't secure with three months' notice and a minor act of bribery.
And in my books, there's usually a rather gorgeous Mediterranean backdrop thrown in for good measure.
It's escapism. Wonderful, shameless escapism.
We know perfectly well that most of us aren't going to be whisked off to a private Spanish island by a billionaire who looks magnificent with his shirt unbuttoned.
But for a few hours, we can enjoy the possibility.
And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But the money isn't really the point
Here's where I think it gets interesting.
Billionaires are accustomed to solving problems by throwing resources at them. They buy companies, hire experts, employ security teams and make decisions that affect thousands of people before breakfast.
They're competent. Decisive. Powerful.
And, in the right circumstances, those qualities can be enormously attractive.
But imagine being in a relationship with someone who believes every disagreement is a problem to be solved, every obstacle something to be removed, and every person somebody who can be persuaded to cooperate.
Exhausting.
Particularly if that person is trying to arrange your entire life for your own good.
What makes billionaire romance so satisfying, at least for me, is watching these extraordinarily capable men encounter something their money and influence cannot control.
A woman who won't do as she's told.
Not because she's being difficult for the sake of it, but because she has her own dreams, principles, ambitions and boundaries.
And she has absolutely no intention of surrendering them simply because a handsome man happens to own half the coastline.
That's when the fun really begins.
The pleasure of watching a powerful man unravel
There's a particular moment in a good billionaire romance that I absolutely love.
It's when the hero realises that all his usual methods have failed.
He can't negotiate his way into her heart. He can't buy her affection. He can't protect her from every difficulty without asking what she actually wants.
And, most inconveniently of all, he's falling hopelessly in love.
I think there's something deeply romantic about a man who could have almost anything discovering that the one thing he truly wants has to be given freely.
Of course, the heroine needs to fall in love too. She isn't there simply to teach him a lesson or repair his emotional shortcomings.
She needs to see something worth loving beneath all that arrogance and expensive tailoring.
That's the real magic for me. Two people discovering that they need to change, compromise and trust each other if they're going to make things work.
The billionaire's fortune doesn't disappear.
He just discovers its limitations.
And then there's Spain…
Perhaps this explains why I enjoy setting my stories in Andalucía and around the Mediterranean.
There's a wonderful contrast between the world of enormous wealth and the everyday pleasures of Spanish life.
You can own a €20 million villa overlooking the sea, but you can't buy a better sunset than the elderly couple sitting together on the beach.
You can employ a Michelin-starred chef, but that doesn't necessarily make your Sunday lunch more enjoyable than a noisy family gathering around a table laden with homemade food.
And you can have the most sophisticated personal security imaginable, but it won't help much when you've fallen in love with someone who sees straight through you.
I love that contrast.
My Vega brothers inhabit a world of privilege, ambition and carefully managed reputations. But the women who enter their lives have a habit of reminding them that the most important things are often the simplest.
Love. Trust. Belonging.
And occasionally knowing when to shut up and listen.
So, would I date a billionaire?
Well, I wouldn't rule it out purely on financial grounds.
I'm not completely unreasonable.
But he'd have to make me laugh. Respect my independence. Be kind when nobody was watching. And understand that sometimes I want to sit in a little chiringuito by the Mediterranean, eat grilled sardines, drink a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
No private jet required.
Although if he wanted to fly us to Italy for the weekend afterwards, I could probably be persuaded.
Your turn, lovely readers ❤️
Would you actually date a billionaire? And which of the four Vega brothers do you think would be the most — or least — tolerable in real life?
I'd genuinely love to know. Just hit reply and tell me!
And if you haven't met Alejandro, Lucas, Mateo and Diego yet, you can discover their stories here:
Coming next time…
Part 2 of 6: The Delicious Fantasy of Having Everything
Private jets, fabulous villas, extravagant gifts and the freedom to go anywhere. Why is extraordinary wealth such an irresistible ingredient in romantic fiction — and what would you do if money really were no object?
Until next time, with wicked affection and a little Spanish sunshine,
Summer xx ❤️
