After writing her 2009 non-fiction book Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair, de Lesseps was inspired to create a song that conveyed a similar message.

"Money Can't Buy You Class" received generally negative reviews from music critics, who panned de Lesseps' singing abilities.

Another remix was featured in her traveling cabaret show titled Countess and Friends, and the original was performed on several occasions for Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

During the second season of the American reality television series The Real Housewives of New York City, cast member Luann de Lesseps explored options in writing a non-fiction work on class, manners, and etiquette.

[2] According to de Lesseps, she wanted to copy the themes and messages discussed in the book and create a song out of it, resulting in "Money Can't Buy You Class".

[4][5] After she revealed her former dream of becoming a singer, Young convinced her to work with him and create a song, ultimately recording "Money Can't Buy You Class" at KMA Studio in New York City.

[4][6] In April 2018, English television personality James Kennedy, a cast member of The Real Housewives spin-off series Vanderpump Rules, teased he was working on a remix of "Money Can't Buy You Class" for de Lesseps.

[17] Musically, "Money Can't Buy You Class" is a disco, house, and electronic-influenced dance song that features de Lesseps singing in an Auto-Tune-altered manner.

He used the digital application Pro Tools to manipulate her voice and laid out a track that could be sung in her normal speaking tone, specifically avoiding writing a ballad.

"[4] de Lesseps compared "Money Can't Buy You Class" to the fictional character of Holly Golightly, describing its style as "runway, glamour-puss".

[3][20] They describe New York City's high society scene, as told through her point-of-view, and provide advice to the listener, suggesting tips such as "Life is all about elegance and flair and savoir-faire" and "It's not about where you're from, it's about what you've learned.

[29] A Billboard staff member suggested that the video was hypocritical: "As she warns against texting during a date and not opening doors for ladies, the Countess revels in the nightlife and shares a bed with a dozen male models.