The 2 Jan 1963 DV announced the upcoming Universal Pictures production by its provisional title, The Richest Girl in Town. A news item in the 26 Sep 1963 issue noted that Universal hired writers Bob Fisher and Arthur Marx to revise the screenplay. According to the 20 Nov 1963 DV, the picture was the first theatrical feature directed by television veteran Jack Smight. The 20 Dec 1963 DV announced the official title as I’d Rather Be Rich. Singer Andy Williams was expected at Universal Studios that day for makeup and wardrobe tests for his screen debut. The story was based on the 1941 release, It Started With Eve (see entry).
       Principal photography began 27 Dec 1963, as stated in a 1 Jan 1964 Var production chart. Four weeks into filming, the 23 Jan 1964 DV reported that Williams sustained a laceration to the right eyebrow during a staged fistfight with Robert Goulet, who was wearing a “jagged ring” on his right hand. Although the singer’s injury was treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, CA, it had not been determined when he would be able to return to work. The accident reportedly occurred when Williams slipped on a patch of wet artificial grass. One week later, LAT announced that Universal signed Williams to a seven-picture contract.
       Producer Ross Hunter told the 26 Jan 1964 NYT that he borrowed much of lead actress Sandra Dee’s $250,000 wardrobe for the picture, reducing costs by nearly $220,000. He also borrowed $1.65 million in jewelry from Cartier, and a luxurious bed from a friend, used in scenes featuring Maurice Chevalier. Hunter added that he saved the studio $165,000 by building the mansion set on a soundstage, as well as a set depicting Los Angeles International Airport. An item in the 6 Feb 1964 DV claimed that Chevalier smoked fifty-five cigars during the course of production, even though he quit smoking in 1935.
       Casting announcements included Ben Lessy and Edward Holmes (31 Dec 1963 DV); Goulet’s wife, Carol Lawrence, in a cameo role (13 Jan 1964 DV); Charles Alvin Bell (24 Jan 1964 DV), and Jonathan Hale (8 Aug 1964 LAT). The 7 Jan 1964 DV credited Bob Willoughby as still photographer. In his 15 Jan 1964 LAT column, writer Matt Weinstock identified Herman Vossmeyer as the armed guard assigned to protect Sandra Dee and Cartier’s jewelry. The 24 Jan 1964 LAT reported a party on the set, attended by Hunter, his cast, members of the press, and several guards assigned to Dee. Four days later, DV noted that one of the officers was fired after imbibing too much champagne.
       According to the 31 Jan 1964 DV, the entire cast and crew, including Hunter, appeared in a magazine advertisement for Bulova watches, each receiving a watch as compensation. The cross-promotional campaign was conceived by Bob Ballin of the Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles advertising agency. On 13 Aug 1964, LAT reported that a fashion show would be held six days later at Universal Studios, sponsored by the Los Angeles, CA, chapter of Theta Sigma Phi, a sorority of professional journalists. The event, known as “Fashionations,” was also a cross-promotion for the picture, with Sandra Dee greeting attendees.
       The 5 Aug 1964 DV announced the 26 Aug 1964 world premiere at the Hippodrome Theater in Hunter’s hometown of Cleveland, OH. Robert Goulet was master of ceremonies. I’d Rather Be Rich opened 30 Aug 1964 in Los Angeles, and 2 Sep 1964 in New York City to lukewarm reviews, several of which noted weaknesses in the screenplay. Regardless, the 9 Sep 1964 Var listed the film as the tenth highest-grossing domestic release. Later that month, the 24 Sep 1964 DV reported a luncheon held the previous day by the Southern California Motion Picture Council, during which Sandra Dee accepted an award on behalf of the film.
       A 7 Aug 1964 DV news item noted that versions of the title song were recorded for Decca Records by Pearl Bailey and Bert Kaempfert, both of which would be made available to exhibitors. Andy Williams recorded another song from the picture, “We’re Almost There,” for Columbia Records.