Are you sure you aren't thinking of "Noble House"? That's the one that takes place in the sixties. In it, Casey Tcholok tells her boss she's looking for "drop dead" money, which is once also referred to as "screw you" money.

Tai-pan is the original story of Dirk struan in the 1800's, and I didn't think the concept came up there at all.

Blergh, you are 100% correct

It goes back further, at least in concept:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1993/03/29/the-king-of-th...

Incredible article, as a part of the younger European generation, had literally no idea about Lazar and the times in the US show business.

Classic book. Love the whole Clavell series, which follows some of these families over the years.