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NEW YORK - A woman's online bid to find a rich husband in New York earning more than $US500,000 a year has caused an internet stir with a mystery Wall Street banker publicly assessing her hunt for romance as a business deal - and a bad one at that.
The anonymous 25-year-old woman posted an ad on the free online New York community website Craigslist, seeking advice on how to find a wealthy husband in New York where Wall Street bankers can earn bonuses each year of up to $10 million.
"I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think I'm overreaching at all," wrote the woman, who described herself as "spectacularly beautiful" and "superficial."
"I dated a business man who makes average around 200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. $250,000 won't get me to Central Park West," she said, asking questions like "where do rich single men hang out?"
Recently an apartment at 15 Central Park West sold for $42.4 million - the highest amount paid for a single unit new condominium in New York.
A mystery banker, who said he fitted the bill, offered the woman an analysis of her predicament - but described it as "plain and simple a crappy business deal."
"Your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity ... in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!" the banker wrote.
"So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset," he said. "Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!"
"It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease," he said.
While the woman has since removed her posting from Craigslist, the ad and the response have become a popular email traffic both within and outside New York where online dating has become commonplace.
Bank JPMorgan Chase & Co said one of its bankers had mistakenly been credited with writing the response.
Brian Marchiony, spokesman for JPMorgan Chase, said the banker did not write the response and that his email signature accidentally became attached to the ad and response when he forwarded it to friends and it then wound up on blogs.
Craigslist was not immediately available for comment, but a spokeswoman told The New York Times that "it does look as if the post was made sincerely."
- REUTERS
