The image of a man wearing nothing but a red Speedo drew me in.

He called himself Fireplace. A 68-year-old living in San Marcos, he described himself as a cosmopolitan gentleman, articulate, educated and witty. His likes: painting, sculpture, art and cooking. His annual salary: between $100,000 and $500,000.

I found Fireplace on wealthymen.com, a Web site devoted to connecting women with men who earn more than $100,000 a year. I wasn't there because I was looking for a sugar daddy. I was simply intrigued by the fact that such a site existed.

Apparently, there are many more.

In today's wired world, it seems easier than ever to meet a man with money. In addition to wealthymen.com, I've found dateamillionaire.com, millionairematch.com and sugardaddie.com.

In most cases, the sites can't prove whether their members truly earn what they say they earn. I have a hard time believing several of the 20-somethings claiming to earn six figures on wealthymen.com actually could. What could bigceez2real, a 22-year-old from San Marcos, possibly do to earn six figures a year? And what could texasboi18, a Clifton resident, do to earn more than $100,000 at 18?
Wealthymen does offer a “verified” tag for members whose salaries have been verified, but, of its nearly 1,000 area members, I found only a few men with the tag. Neither bigceez2real or texasboi18 had it.

Still, the mere existence of these sites makes it clear that the idea of marrying for money is thriving.

I have been told on a few occasions the best thing I can do for my future is to marry rich. I refuse to buy into that theory, though, partly because I think people should marry for love. My other reason: I think people should work to be their own sugar daddies or mommies. Instead of spending energy searching for a so-called wealthy man, why not put that effort into creating your own wealth?

You don't have to inherit a pot of money, have a six-figure job or win the lottery to make that happen.

I've talked to plenty of financial advisers who tell stories of clients earning $30,000 or $40,000 a year and able to afford the lifestyles they desire and generate a sizeable nest egg. If these people can do it, why can't anyone?

Granted, we might not become as wealthy as say a Hilton or Spears sister, but if we've got the cash for what we want, shouldn't that be enough? I'm willing to work a steady job, save a portion of my earnings and invest wisely to create my own wealth.

I know it might not be the easiest or most pleasant route to riches, but I would much rather have my own money than be beholden to someone else's pocketbook, whims and desires.