argumentum ad crumenam

{{Short description|Informal fallacy}}

{{Italic title}}{{More citations needed|date=June 2024}}

An argumentum ad crumenam argument, also known as an argument to the purse, is the informal fallacy of drawing conclusions based on the speaker's financial status.{{Cite book |last=Fellmeth |first=Aaron X. |title=Guide to Latin in International Law |last2=Horwitz |first2=Maurice |date=2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780197583104 |chapter=Argumentum ad crumenam |doi=10.1093/acref/9780197583104.001.0001/acref-9780197583104-e-257}}{{broken link|date=February 2025}}{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} The term generally refers to the assumption that having wealth is indicative of insight or virtue, and that poverty denotes the opposite.

The opposite is the argumentum ad lazarum.

Examples:

• "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?"
• "This new law is a good idea. Most of the people against it are riff-raff who make less than $20,000 a year."
• "Warren Buffett is hosting a seminar. This seminar is better than others, because Warren Buffett is richer than most people."