He seems to have written his memoirs mainly so that he can 'dish the dirt' on all his former lovers.
The police 'struck pay dirt' when a witness came forward with new information.
The band 'hit pay dirt' [=had a big success] with their first single.
(..) Never more than now, when you're cornered. I'm not cornered. And you'll never corner me, Rhett Butler, or frighten me! You've lived in dirt so long, you can't understand anything else. And you're jealous of something you can't understand. Good night! Jealous, am l? Yes, I suppose I am. (..)1939 Gone with the Wind
(..) ...l do wish you'd let me hire free darkies instead of using convicts. I believe we could do better. Darkies! Why, their pay would break us, and convicts are dirt cheap. If we just give Gallegher a free hand-- A free hand! You know what that means. He'll starve them and whip them. (..)1939 Gone with the Wind