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150 Songs About Money, Getting Paid, Being Broke, and Chasing the Dollar

Songs about money are everywhere because money is everywhere: in the paycheck, the rent, the dream, the hustle, the tax bill, the shopping cart, and that mysterious place where your cash goes five minutes after payday. Popular music has treated money as a blessing, a curse, a joke, a temptation, a status symbol, and sometimes just a really good excuse for a bassline.

This list of money songs includes classic rock, Motown, soul, disco, hip-hop, country, pop, Broadway, reggae, punk, and novelty favorites. Some songs celebrate getting paid. Some warn that money can twist people into human calculators. Others simply admit that being broke is a full-time emotional support animal.

The best songs about money are not always about having it. Many are about wanting it, losing it, working for it, owing it, showing it off, or learning that love, pride, and dignity are still not available in a clearance bin. From Pink Floyd and The O’Jays to Wu-Tang Clan, Donna Summer, Dolly Parton, Madonna, Rihanna, and Barrett Strong, money has inspired some of the sharpest, funniest, angriest, and most memorable songs in pop culture.

Best Songs About Money

A few money songs have become bigger than their original chart runs. Money by Pink Floyd turned cash registers and coins into one of rock’s most recognizable grooves. For the Love of Money by The O’Jays made greed sound funky enough to make listeners dance while judging themselves a little. C.R.E.A.M. by Wu-Tang Clan gave hip-hop one of its most quoted financial philosophies: cash rules everything around me.

Donna Summer’s She Works Hard for the Money became an anthem for working people, especially women whose labor was often taken for granted. Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 did the same for office workers, turning workplace frustration into a sing-along with perfect timing and just enough coffee-fueled revenge energy.

Other classics on this list approach money from different angles. Can’t Buy Me Love by The Beatles rejects the idea that money can solve everything, while Material Girl by Madonna turned consumer culture into a glittery pop persona. Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny’s Child and No Scrubs by TLC pushed the conversation into relationships, responsibility, and financial dead weight. Romantic? Not exactly. Accurate? Often painfully so.

Money Songs About Wealth, Greed, and Getting Paid

  • Money – Pink Floyd
  • For the Love of Money – The O’Jays
  • C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan
  • All About the Benjamins – Puff Daddy & The Family
  • I Get Money – 50 Cent
  • Money, Cash, Hoes – Jay-Z featuring DMX
  • Money, Power & Respect – The LOX featuring DMX & Lil’ Kim
  • Got Money – Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
  • Money Trees – Kendrick Lamar featuring Jay Rock
  • Money in the Bank – Swizz Beatz

Hip-hop has given money songs some of their sharpest modern language. Sometimes money represents survival. Sometimes it represents power. Sometimes it is proof that somebody finally escaped a situation designed to keep them stuck. The best songs in this lane work because they are not only bragging; they are telling you what the money had to overcome.

Money Songs About Work, Bills, and Paychecks

  • She Works Hard for the Money – Donna Summer
  • 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
  • Bills, Bills, Bills – Destiny’s Child
  • I Need a Dollar – Aloe Blacc
  • Workin’ for a Livin’ – Huey Lewis and the News
  • Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford
  • Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck
  • Career Opportunities – The Clash
  • Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) – Styx
  • Cost of Livin’ – Ronnie Dunn

Work songs about money often hit harder than luxury songs because almost everyone knows what it feels like to earn, spend, budget, and wonder why groceries suddenly require a small business loan. These tracks are about ordinary pressure: time clocks, unpaid bills, debt, layoffs, bad bosses, and the strange magic trick where a paycheck appears and disappears in the same afternoon.

Songs About Being Broke

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? – Bing Crosby
  • I’m Broke – Limp Bizkit
  • Broke – Teddy Swims featuring Thomas Rhett
  • Broke – Samm Henshaw
  • No Money – Galantis
  • Broke in America – John Craigie
  • Broke as a Joke – Quiet Riot
  • Poor Poor Pitiful Me – Warren Zevon
  • Poor Side of Town – Johnny Rivers
  • Poor Man’s Paradise – Gordon Lightfoot

Not every money song is about having money. Some of the most lasting ones are about not having enough of it. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? became one of the defining songs associated with the Great Depression, while Sixteen Tons gave listeners a working-class story about debt, labor, and the company store. Different eras, same basic headache: money may not buy happiness, but not having it can absolutely rent misery by the month.

Pop Songs About Money, Status, and Spending

  • Material Girl – Madonna
  • Rich Girl – Hall & Oates
  • Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
  • Royals – Lorde
  • Price Tag – Jessie J featuring B.o.B
  • Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
  • Billionaire – Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars
  • Million Dollar Baby – Tommy Richman
  • Million Dollar Bill – Whitney Houston
  • Money Machine – 100 gecs

Pop music loves money because money is visual. It gives artists instant imagery: diamonds, cars, suits, shopping bags, champagne, penthouses, thrift-store finds, and the occasional tax problem hiding behind the sunglasses. The smartest pop money songs also know how ridiculous the whole thing can be. Lorde’s Royals pushed back against luxury-pop fantasy, while Thrift Shop turned bargain hunting into a victory lap.

Country, Folk, and Old-School Money Songs

  • If You’ve Got the Money I’ve Got the Time – Lefty Frizzell
  • The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
  • Greenback Dollar – The Kingston Trio
  • Handful of Money – John Anderson
  • Big Money – Garth Brooks
  • Two Dollars in the Jukebox – Eddie Rabbitt
  • There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang – Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings
  • Pay Me My Money Down – Bruce Springsteen
  • Rags to Riches – Tony Bennett
  • Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket – Dean Martin

Country, folk, and traditional pop money songs often come with a wink, a warning, or a bar tab. Some are about gambling, some are about debt, and some are about scraping by with style. The stories tend to feel lived-in: a pocket full of change, a jukebox, a payday, a bad bet, and somebody who probably should have gone home two hours ago.

150 Songs About Money

  1. Money – Pink Floyd
  2. For the Love of Money – The O’Jays
  3. Money for Nothing – Dire Straits
  4. C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan
  5. Money, Money, Money – ABBA
  6. She Works Hard for the Money – Donna Summer
  7. Baby You’re a Rich Man – The Beatles
  8. Take the Money and Run – Steve Miller Band
  9. Mo Money Mo Problems – The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy & Mase
  10. Money (That’s What I Want) – Barrett Strong
  11. Rich Girl – Hall & Oates
  12. Bills, Bills, Bills – Destiny’s Child
  13. Material Girl – Madonna
  14. Gold Digger – Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
  15. Price Tag – Jessie J featuring B.o.B
  16. Can’t Buy Me Love – The Beatles
  17. If I Had $1,000,000 – Barenaked Ladies
  18. Money Maker – Ludacris featuring Pharrell
  19. Royals – Lorde
  20. Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
  21. Billionaire – Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars
  22. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
  23. Money Changes Everything – Cyndi Lauper
  24. Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) – Pet Shop Boys
  25. Got Money – Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
  26. Taxman – The Beatles
  27. I Need a Dollar – Aloe Blacc
  28. All About the Benjamins – Puff Daddy & The Family
  29. Easy Money – Billy Joel
  30. Money Trees – Kendrick Lamar featuring Jay Rock
  31. Rich Men North of Richmond – Oliver Anthony Music
  32. Moneytalks – AC/DC
  33. Bitch Better Have My Money – Rihanna
  34. The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
  35. Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
  36. Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim
  37. Money Honey – Elvis Presley
  38. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? – Bing Crosby
  39. Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford
  40. You Never Give Me Your Money – The Beatles
  41. Money, Cash, Hoes – Jay-Z featuring DMX
  42. Workin’ for a Livin’ – Huey Lewis and the News
  43. Moneygrabber – Fitz and The Tantrums
  44. If I Were a Rich Man – Zero Mostel / Fiddler on the Roof
  45. Rich Flex – Drake & 21 Savage
  46. Living for the City – Stevie Wonder
  47. The Payback – James Brown
  48. Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On but the Rent – Gwen Guthrie
  49. Money in the Bank – Swizz Beatz
  50. Mercedes Benz – Janis Joplin
  51. Big Spender – Shirley Bassey
  52. I Get Money – 50 Cent
  53. Money to Blow – Birdman featuring Lil Wayne & Drake
  54. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night – Prince & The New Power Generation
  55. Million Dollar Baby – Tommy Richman
  56. A Lot – 21 Savage featuring J. Cole
  57. We’re in the Money – Ginger Rogers
  58. No Scrubs – TLC
  59. Independent Women Part I – Destiny’s Child
  60. Career Opportunities – The Clash
  61. The Big Money – Rush
  62. Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) – Styx
  63. Money, Money – Liza Minnelli & Joel Grey
  64. Handful of Money – John Anderson
  65. Greenback Dollar – The Kingston Trio
  66. Moneytalks – The Pretenders
  67. Money Made You Mean – Indigo Girls
  68. I’m So Paid – Akon featuring Lil Wayne & Young Jeezy
  69. Cash Machine – Hard-Fi
  70. I’m Broke – Limp Bizkit
  71. Money on My Mind – Sam Smith
  72. Broke – Teddy Swims featuring Thomas Rhett
  73. Money Longer – Lil Uzi Vert
  74. Make the Money – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
  75. Common People – Pulp
  76. If You’ve Got the Money I’ve Got the Time – Lefty Frizzell
  77. Ka-Ching! – Shania Twain
  78. Million Dollar Bill – Whitney Houston
  79. Dead Presidents II – Jay-Z
  80. Bank Account – 21 Savage
  81. Money Honey – Lady Gaga
  82. Money – Cardi B
  83. Money on My Mind – Lil Wayne
  84. Broke – Samm Henshaw
  85. Money to Burn – Richard Ashcroft
  86. Rich Girl – Nina Simone
  87. Can’t Take It with You – The Allman Brothers Band
  88. Money Is – Quincy Jones featuring Little Richard
  89. Dollar – Electric Guest
  90. Cash In, Cash Out – Pharrell Williams featuring 21 Savage & Tyler, The Creator
  91. Money – The Flying Lizards
  92. Money in the Grave – Drake featuring Rick Ross
  93. Love Don’t Cost a Thing – Jennifer Lopez
  94. Fancy – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
  95. Lifestyle – Rich Gang featuring Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan
  96. Greenbacks – Ray Charles
  97. Money – Michael Kiwanuka & Tom Misch
  98. Money, Money, Money – The Muppets
  99. Broke as a Joke – Quiet Riot
  100. Makin’ Money – Handsome Boy Modeling School
  101. Money Ain’t a Thang – Jermaine Dupri featuring Jay-Z
  102. Rags to Riches – Tony Bennett
  103. Rich Girl Mood – Dounia featuring Kehlani
  104. Money, Power & Respect – The LOX featuring DMX & Lil’ Kim
  105. Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend – Marilyn Monroe
  106. Money Machine – 100 gecs
  107. Paper Planes – M.I.A.
  108. Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) – Wyclef Jean featuring Akon, Lil Wayne & Niia
  109. Money Talks – Rick James
  110. Dollar Wine – Colin Lucas
  111. Money in My Pocket – Dennis Brown
  112. Get Money – Junior M.A.F.I.A. featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
  113. No Money – Galantis
  114. Broke in America – John Craigie
  115. Poor Man’s Moody Blues – Barclay James Harvest
  116. Cost of Livin’ – Ronnie Dunn
  117. Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket – Dean Martin
  118. Blood Money – Bon Jovi
  119. Money Can’t Buy It – Annie Lennox
  120. The Man Who Sold the World – David Bowie
  121. Puttin’ On the Ritz – Taco
  122. Money, Money, Money – Meryl Streep, Julie Walters & Christine Baranski
  123. Big Money – Garth Brooks
  124. Millionaire – Kelis featuring André 3000
  125. I Got the Money – James Brown
  126. Poor Poor Pitiful Me – Warren Zevon
  127. Money, Money – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
  128. The Money Song – Monty Python
  129. There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang – Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings
  130. Bread and Butter – The Newbeats
  131. Money Bought – Nickelback
  132. Gimme Some Money – Spinal Tap
  133. Pay Me My Money Down – Bruce Springsteen
  134. I’m Not Rich – The King’s Son featuring Blacko
  135. Money – Leikeli47
  136. Money – Jamelia
  137. Poor Man’s Paradise – Gordon Lightfoot
  138. Get Paid – Young Dolph
  139. Money Changes Everything – The Brains
  140. Rich Man’s World (1%) – Immortal Technique
  141. Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck
  142. Money Can’t Buy Me Love – Blackstreet
  143. Broke Down – Slaid Cleaves
  144. Make It Rain – Fat Joe featuring Lil Wayne
  145. Money Talks – T.I.
  146. Working Class Hero – John Lennon
  147. Two Dollars in the Jukebox – Eddie Rabbitt
  148. Money Come, Money Go – Young M.C.
  149. Poor Side of Town – Johnny Rivers
  150. Money Makes the World Go Round – Liza Minnelli & Joel Grey

Money Songs in Movies, TV, and Pop Culture

Money songs also work because they fit so many pop-culture situations. A heist scene, a shopping montage, a Wall Street parody, a lottery fantasy, a sports contract joke, or a broke-roommate sitcom gag can all use a money song without needing much explanation. The subject does half the storytelling before the first chorus arrives.

Money for Nothing captured the MTV age with a title that became part of everyday language. Big Spender has lived far beyond its stage-musical roots because it sounds like a neon sign learned to flirt. Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend remains one of the classic examples of glamour, performance, and wealth rolled into one unmistakable pop-culture moment.

Money Songs Trivia

  • Money (That’s What I Want) by Barrett Strong was one of Motown’s early breakthrough records and helped establish the label’s commercial identity.
  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? became closely associated with the Great Depression and working people who felt forgotten after helping build the country.
  • Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, recognizing its cultural and historical importance.
  • She Works Hard for the Money became one of Donna Summer’s signature 1980s songs and was performed at the 1984 GRAMMY Awards.
  • C.R.E.A.M. remains one of Wu-Tang Clan’s most quoted songs, partly because its title turns a financial survival lesson into four unforgettable letters.

Why Songs About Money Keep Paying Off

Songs about money last because the subject never really leaves the room. People change jobs, prices change, music styles change, but money keeps showing up in love songs, protest songs, dance songs, rap anthems, comedy songs, country songs, and Broadway numbers. It is the guest star nobody invited but everyone recognizes.

The best money songs do more than mention dollars. They reveal ambition, fear, greed, humor, independence, survival, frustration, and fantasy. Sometimes they make wealth sound glamorous. Sometimes they make it sound ridiculous. Sometimes they remind us that the real cost of chasing money is not always printed on the receipt.

Sources and Music History References