actualeeeee, what he said isn't breaking a rule, unless he meant on the blackmarket.
in fact english speaking countries have many different ways to obtain a passport, and some methods are simply with cash investments. all legal options.
and of course it could have nothing to do at all with your perceived reason and the guy is the type who likes to try to show off by 'dropping' not so subtle comments which he think is a reflection of his superiority. But in reality has the opposite effect.