Almighty dollar
The almighty dollar is a phrase that was coined by Washington Irving in 1837. It is commonly used as a criticism of materialism.
"The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion throughout our land, seems to have no genuine devotees in these peculiar villages; and unless some of its missionaries penetrate there, and erect banking houses and other pious shrines, there is no knowing how long the inhabitants may remain in their present state of contented poverty." - Washington Irving, 1837