I think money is PART of having status. Same with looks, strong social circles, etc. Its all connected, but has nothing to do with the core trait (ie, money). People with money - just as with looks, popularity, etc - tend to boast and brag (even if indirectly - through body language, expensive luxuries, arrogance, not giving a ****, etc) - which catches the eye of the female, and makes them wonder what all the fuss is about. From there, theyll put up with all kinds of crap to obtain and maintain whomever is deemed as high status.
To that end, I think men act this way because of their status as a result of these traits. So, youll have rich, handsome, or popular guys acting like extreme douche bag *******s because they can and dont care, and the women lap it up. Nobody cares if a loser is being a jerk, but its ok if a cool guy is treating everyone like crap. You have to have the status BEFORE anything else. Otherwise youre just a loser bragging about nothing, and complaining that women dont like you (still).
I was actually watching a dating show on MTV a long time ago. One of the girls (ie, the prize) commented snidly to a contestant (ie, a loser) that, in order to pull off being a bad boy (as he was trying to be, or was just an arrogant jerk in general), you have to be hot first. He was firmly rejected for being an unattractive ****wad. I dont know why I remember this, and didnt know or give a **** about dating back then.
Or "hot chicks with douche bags". A lot of those guys are very good looking. Thus, douche baggery. And likewise for the girls.
So, people with status tend to flaunt it. Its not being a douche bag that appeals, and theyre only douche bags because of their status. ****, I used to walk around like king ****, was a major *******, shallow as hell, etc - all because of the status I obtained through looks (women feeding the ego to unprecedented levels). Back in the fat and unattractive days, nobody cared, so I didnt boast. It wasnt even in the sights; it didnt exist.
Its not until you appeal and gain status that you become a douche rocket. And if you never had it, and it comes on suddenly, its even worse. So, I disagree with the theory that you should date someone who wasnt always hot. They are now, and got the douche science mastered. Theyre going to act the same way - if not 50x worse - than those who always were. Theyre probably going to make up for lost douche time, even.
Ramblage.