How did the “Income” of rich people mentioned in the literature of 19th-century work?

Question

When reading a book like the Count of Monte Chriato or Scherlock Holmes, they mention that this and this person has an income of 4000 pounds and that person will have this and this income when she marries.

How does that work? Most of these people do not do any actual job.

In: 669

Answer 1

I’ve not seen mentioned that they often have money in the ‘funds’, essentially government bonds, the government borrowed money in times of expenditure then paid interest on it. so an income of £200/year could mean £4-5000 invested in a government fund. As inflation was low or even negative it was a very good, very reliable investment and generally only open to the rich.