Women are more likely to fancy rich men.

Women prefer a man with cash

Women prefer a man with cash

A new study has suggested that the 'gold-digging' stereotype really is true as the findings revealed that females prioritise financial prospects and social status in a male partner.

The University of Bath team, led by Meike Scheller, also discovered that men are more likely to judge women on appearance.

The researchers wrote in the study - published in The Journal of Sex Research - said: "Heterosexual men rated physical attractiveness higher than women, while the latter placed higher importance on social status and financial prospects than men."

The team surveyed 310 participants about their sexual and romantic preferences as they set out to understand whether or not sexual attraction influences partner choice.

The experts wrote: "Sexual attraction is assumed to guide interest, desire, and the affinity toward specific partner features.

"However, when sexual attraction can indeed explain differences in partner preferences has not been explicitly tested."