Wealthy people live differently from the rest of us. Their homes are bigger, their cars are shinier and their clothes are more stylish. And historically their partners have been younger, too.

Growing up in the 1990s I saw business tycoons such as Hugh Hefner and Hollywood stars such as Michael Douglas paired with women decades younger than them. Back then, it seemed normal for men of a certain age and status to marry “trophy wives”.

But this phenomenon appears to be fading. Census data from America show that in 1980 men in the top 1% of the income distribution were about 50% more likely than other men to marry someone ten years younger. Today they marry much like everyone else.