Mrs Rich seeks Mr Right

It charges a yearly fee of £10,000 and requires that members have assets worth £1 million. Yet business has never been better for Seventy Thirty, an exclusive London matchmaking service with offices opposite the upmarket Harrod's department store in London's Knightsbridge district.

"There has been a ten per cent increase in members since the recession [began]," Rachel MacLynn, head of membership, told the Financial Times. "It's made people think life could be quite scary and they'd like someone to be with."

Matchmaking services for the rich are not restricted to heterosexual singles. Patrick Perrine runs Mypartner.com, a gay dating service that charges clients between $5,000 and $30,000. "Our clients tend to have an annual income of over $150,000," he said.

However, Jonathan Alpert, a New York psychotherapist, warns people against marrying for money. "A workaholic does not make for a good partner," he says, pointing out that it takes a lot of effort to become a millionaire. Intelligence, humour and creativity are the things that keep a relationship going. "Money is great, but quality time together is priceless," says Alpert.