What justification stated the rich prospered because they were more fit to survive?

The justification that the rich prospered because they were more fit to survive is rooted in Social Darwinism, a theory that applies the concept of "survival of the fittest" to human societies. Proponents argued that wealth and success were indicators of inherent superiority, suggesting that those who thrived economically were naturally chosen to do so. This perspective often ignored systemic inequalities and the social factors that contribute to success, promoting the idea that poverty was a result of personal failure rather than external circumstances.