well, I always thought it was how the opposite sex(for straight folks anyway) reacted to a guy. if you were pursued or not. the op mentions, looks, hungness, personality, and money. when I was younger I had to varying degress the first three, but not money. my looks got better thru my teens, and my neighbor female friend(kinda like a sister) described me as pretty hot when I was about 20, word of my hungness spread as I dated and fucked, I overcame my shyness and let my personality out. my lack of money and social status wasn't too bad at times, but it was a "major player" when I really fell hard for a gal who was way above me socially. my "3 out of 4" hooked us up for awhile, but she didn't stick. major disappointment. but I went on. my sexual prowness and reputation grew. I got used, I think, a little for my cock, and then got wise and used it to my benefit.
anyway, now I'm late 50's. still in good shape. still described as hot. I ask, "for my age??" and gals tell me," for any age, you are a hot man". some things have changed, my personality is stronger, I am more easy going, and money???? now I have money. oh, it doesn't buy social status, but over the years, social status has meant less and less. and the gal I fell hard for, years ago? she is my friend now. the shallowness of it all. she is not thought of much socially anymore, and is certainly no one's catch, but I try to look beyond all that and be her friend.