Investor diligence & data rooms · Working
Source of wealth
Also called: wealth source, SOW
ELI5
Proof of how an investor became wealthy.
Used in conversation
“The family office completed source-of-wealth review.”
Definition
Evidence explaining how a person's overall wealth was generated.
Here “Source of wealth” means: Evidence explaining how a person's overall wealth was generated.
Pitch context
You will see “Source of wealth” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches investor diligence & data rooms.
Why it matters: In investor diligence & data rooms, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.
Caution
Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.
Connected terms
- Scope of workThe search label “SOW” can route to both entries.
- Statement of workThe search label “SOW” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 8
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- OECD — G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023Direct source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — EDGAR and filing resourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16