Aespa Rich Man Meaning and Review
- Burner Records
- Sep 6
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 16

A Bold Concept Redefined
Aespa’s “Rich Man,” the title track of their sixth mini-album of the same name, marks one of the group’s most striking conceptual turns yet. Rather than centering on the pursuit of love, luxury, or external validation, the song boldly reframes what it means to be “rich.” Inspired by Cher’s iconic quote, “Mom, I am a rich man,” aespa claims empowerment through self-sufficiency, self-love, and unshakable confidence. This is not only a thematic shift but also a powerful statement in the landscape of K-pop, where empowerment anthems are often framed through external recognition. Here, aespa makes it clear: their value is self-defined, their richness inherent.
The Sound of Strength
Musically, “Rich Man” thrives on its fusion of gritty electric guitar riffs with band-style arrangements, a sound that pushes aespa further into a rock-infused pop territory they have only flirted with before. The production balances heaviness with sleek polish, allowing the members’ vocals to soar without being overpowered. The repetitive yet infectious chorus, “I am a rich man, I am a rich man,” hammers home the message with anthemic force, almost daring listeners to chant along. The result is a track that feels both stadium-ready and deeply personal, grounding its larger-than-life sound in individual declarations of strength.
Lyrical Empowerment
The lyrics further drive home the theme of independence. Karina highlights the song’s meaning best, noting that the “rich man” is not someone external but the self, a person who trusts and loves themselves. Lines like “I am my own biggest fan, and I’m high in demand” radiate unapologetic confidence, while verses delivered in both Korean and English remind fans that self-belief transcends language. Ningning and Winter’s soaring vocals carry the emotional heft, while Giselle’s rap verses inject a cool defiance that underlines the group’s multi-dimensional identity. Together, the delivery embodies aespa’s message: they are enough as they are.
Choreography and Visuals
Visually and performatively, “Rich Man” has been crafted with accessibility in mind. The choreography includes simple hand gestures and motions that invite fans to join in, while still spotlighting each member’s individuality. This balance between fan engagement and personal expression mirrors the song’s theme, celebrating collective empowerment while affirming self-worth. The styling, stage presence, and choreography combine to reinforce aespa’s narrative of being modern “rich men”: powerful, untouchable, yet approachable through their confidence.
The Album’s Manifesto
As the centerpiece of the Rich Man mini-album, the song sets the tone for the project’s overarching message. While other tracks like “Drift” and “Count On Me” expand on themes of self-discovery, connection, and resilience, “Rich Man” stands as the manifesto. It is both a catchy pop anthem and a cultural statement, flipping a historically patriarchal phrase into one of liberation and self-definition. Aespa does not just sing about independence, they embody it, presenting themselves as role models who, in their own words, already have everything they need. With “Rich Man,” aespa proves that wealth is not in possessions or people, but in unapologetically knowing your own worth.
Listen To Aespa Rich Man
Aespa Rich Man Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of Rich Man by Aespa is a declaration of self-empowerment and confidence, redefining what it means to be “rich.” Rather than focusing on material wealth or external validation, the song celebrates personal strength, creativity, and self-love. Drawing inspiration from Cher’s iconic 1996 statement, “Mom, I am a rich man,” aespa transforms the phrase into a modern anthem of independence, emphasizing that true richness comes from believing in oneself and embracing one’s own worth. Throughout the track, the members assert that they are enough as they are, turning every lyric into a mantra of confidence and individuality.
Intro: Cher’s Legacy Reimagined
“Rich Man” opens with Giselle quoting Cher’s iconic 1996 interview, where she told her mother, “Mom, I am a rich man.” The lines, “My mom said to me, ‘Find someone who can give you everything’ / And I said, ‘Mom, I already have everything’ / I am a rich man, I am a rich man” immediately frame the song as a statement of independence. Rather than relying on external validation or financial support, aespa asserts that they already possess everything they need within themselves. This bold reclaiming of a historically patriarchal expectation sets the foundation for the track’s message of empowerment.
Chorus: A Mantra of Self-Worth
The chorus cements this theme with affirmations like “I am a rich man (I’ma carry myself)” and “I’m my own biggest fan, and I’m high in demand.” Here, “carrying myself” emphasizes walking with confidence and self-assurance, while celebrating self-love and the recognition that true value comes from within. The repetition of “I am a rich man” transforms the phrase into a mantra, encouraging both the group and listeners to internalize it as an identity. It is a declaration of inherent worth, not contingent on wealth or others’ approval.
Verses: Defiance and Originality
The verses push this confidence further by addressing external criticism. In “Don’t care about what they say / 날 밀어 넣고 멋대로 굴 때,” the members acknowledge being pushed around or judged but refuse to be defined by negativity. The defiance continues in “내 것을 탐내 see? My name is / Where my name is? (I am a rich man),” where they point out others’ envy while affirming the power of their own name. Karina and Giselle emphasize resilience with lines like “That’s me, 나는 reckless / 굳은 mental 그것쯤 웃네 (What?),” revealing an unshakable mindset that finds strength in risk-taking and self-belief.
Later verses expand the definition of “rich” beyond money. In “Don’t need the money, yeah, I see it / In my closet, my ideas,” aespa identifies creativity and individuality as true forms of wealth. The phrase “내 말버릇, 내 걸음, 내 이름” underscores that even their habits, walk, and name carry significance, while “You know when I’m serving them looks, I’ma feed ’em” connects their influence to cultural impact, where their style and presence inspire others. Verse three continues this refusal to conform, with “Twenty four, 모두가 same shade / You already know what the tag say” rejecting uniformity, while “Make it better on my own, my tag / I won’t double back, 흉내 안 내” stresses originality. The closing imagery, “I’m like a diamond ring, already got my thing / Cannot put a price on it, this is the real deal, yeah,” likens their worth to something priceless and unbuyable.
Pre-Choruses and Post-Choruses: The Power of Belief
The pre-choruses and post-choruses serve as rallying cries for self-belief. Lines like “딴 생각 말고 self-belief / 'Cause 그게 훨씬 재미있지” remind listeners to stop overthinking and choose confidence, because self-belief is more liberating and joyful. The chant-like “La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (I am what I am)” and “La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (I am a rich man)” transform empowerment into something celebratory, accessible, and easy to sing along with.
Closing Message: A Philosophy of Independence
By the final chorus, when the group repeats “I am my own biggest fan and I’m high in demand,” the message has been reinforced so strongly that it becomes more than a lyric. It becomes a philosophy. “Rich Man” is not about money or status but about self-recognition, creativity, and unshakable confidence. In reclaiming the phrase first made famous by Cher, aespa turns it into a generational anthem for independence and self-worth.
Aespa Rich Man Lyrics
[에스파 "Rich Man" 가사]
[Intro: Giselle]
My mom said to me
"Find someone who can give you everything"
And I said, "Mom, I already have everything"
I am a rich man, I am a rich man
[Chorus: Winter, Ningning]
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man
I'm my own biggest fan, and I'm high in demand
I am a rich man
[Verse 1: Karina, Giselle, Winter]
Don't care about what they say
날 밀어 넣고 멋대로 굴 때
내 것을 탐내 see? My name is
Where my name is? (I am a rich man)
That's me, 나는 reckless (Yeah)
굳은 mental 그것쯤 웃네 (What?)
내가 날 이끌어 가, 보여 다음 sign
별거 아냐, exit is my next step
[Pre-Chorus: Ningning, Ningning & Giselle, Winter]
딴 생각 말고 self-belief
'Cause 그게 훨씬 재미있지, ooh-woah, oh
I am a rich man
So I am standin', where you lookin'?
맞춘 듯한 my perfect fit, baby
[Chorus: Karina, Giselle, Ningning, Winter]
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man
I'm that one, 난 나로 가득해 by myself
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself; Hey, hey)
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself; Hey, hey, hey, hey)
I am a rich man (Hey, hey)
I am my own biggest fan and I'm high in demand (Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
I am a rich man (Rich man)
[Post-Chorus: All, (Giselle, Ningning, Winter, Karina)]
La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (I am what I am)
La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (I am a rich man)
La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (I am what I am)
La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (I am a rich man)
[Verse 2: Ningning, Karina, Giselle, Winter]
Don't care about what they say
날 밀어내고 함부로 굴 때
오히려, okay, see? My name is
What my name is (I am a rich man)
Don't need the money, yeah, I see it
In my closet, my ideas
내 말버릇, 내 걸음, 내 이름
You know when I'm serving them looks, I'ma feed 'em
[Pre-Chorus: Karina, Winter & Giselle, Ningning]
딴 생각 말고 self-belief
'Cause 그게 좀 더 재밌잖아, ooh-woah, oh-oh
I am a rich man
So I am standin', where you lookin'?
맞춘 듯한 my perfect fit, baby
[Chorus: Giselle, Ningning, Winter, Karina]
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man
I'm that one, 난 나로 가득해 by myself
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man
I am my own biggest fan and I'm high in demand (Say, ooh)
I am a rich man
[Verse 3: Karina, Giselle]
Twenty four, 모두가 same shade
You already know what the tag say
Make it better on my own, my tag
I won't double back, 흉내 안 내
If you blame it, cameo
I carry the load, run the show
I'm like a diamond ring, already got my thing
Cannot put a price on it, this is the real deal, yeah
[Chorus: Winter, Karina, Ningning, Giselle]
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself)
I am a rich man
I'm that one, 난 나로 가득해 by myself (Say, what?)
I am a rich man (Hoo; I'ma carry myself; Hey, hey)
I am a rich man (I'ma carry myself; Hey, hey, hey, hey)
I am a rich man (Hey, hey)
I am my own biggest fan and I'm high in demand (Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey; Woo)
I am a rich man (Rich man)
[Post-Chorus: All, (Karina, Giselle, Ningning, Winter)]
La-la, la-la (Hey, hey), la, ah-ah (I am what I am)
La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (So good, so good, so good; I am a rich man)
La-la, la-la (Hey, hey), la, ah-ah (I am what I am)
La-la, la-la, la, ah-ah (I am a rich man)




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