This systematic review examines empirical studies published between 2000 and 2025 on the relationship between habitus and economic capital, based on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital. Around 60 studies – ranging from ethnographic case studies to quantitative surveys and mixed-methods approaches – are synthesized to explore whether habitual dispositions are fully shaped by financial resources or show relative autonomy. The findings indicate that while economic capital strongly structures access to education, cultural participation, and opportunities for social mobility, ingrained dispositions often persist across economic fluctuations. Cultural practices, educational pathways, and biographies of advancement demonstrate that financial resources open doors but do not determine how they are used or valued. The concept of “habitus clivé” highlights the tensions created when economic success does not align with inherited orientations. The review concludes that reducing inequality requires attention not only to material resources but also to deeply rooted habitual structures.