gold digging

Gold digging in its literal sense is the extraction of gold from the earth, an occupation that drew prospectors to places like California and Alaska during historic gold rushes.

The figurative sense, however, is far more common today: pursuing a romantic relationship primarily for financial gain.

A gold digger is typically a woman who targets wealthy men, though the term applies regardless of gender.

She's just gold digging—he's twice her age and worth millions.