[[quoteright:320:[[TheSimpsons http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/homerflowers.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:320:The JerkAss himself turning into one of these.]]

->"The act of making an innocent girl cry should warrant the death penalty."\\
-- '''Miles Edgeworth''', ''Phoenix Wright: AceAttorney''

->"I really did [love you], too, you old crab -- always yelling your head off, always sore at everybody. But you never fooled me with your song and dance, not for a second. I kind of always knew that behind the cigar ashes on your vest you had a heart as big as a house."\\
-- '''Walter Neff''' to Keyes, ''DoubleIndemnity''

A person you would expect to be a big {{Jerkass}} turns out to be the nicest person you've ever met, or at the very least has some redeeming qualities behind their tough demeanor. Occasionally, they'll actively try to make it a HiddenHeartOfGold.

A female JerkWithAHeartOfGold in a romance series is usually a {{Tsundere}} or occasionally a {{Kuudere}}. A male JerkWithAHeartOfGold is usually TroubledButCute, and his heart of gold should never outweigh his inner jerk because AllGirlsWantBadBoys -- though it can if SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan. If his jerkishness threatens to overshadow his good qualities, he's likely to attract a LoveMartyr.

Will get plenty of PetTheDog moments. Immune to MoralDissonance. If he's a manly-man who pursues an unexpectedly delicate hobby, it's a case of RealMenWearPink.

Not to be confused with [[HitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy a certain jerk]] whose spaceship is ''named'' [[IncrediblyLamePun "The Heart of Gold."]]

Compare/contrast with JerkassFacade, BitchInSheepsClothing, NobleDemon, and HeroWithAnFInGood. Sometimes subverted as JerkWithAHeartOfJerk. One half of the [[WhenAJerkLovesATsundere Takahashi Couple]]. Also compare with GoodIsNotNice. TheLancer is often portrayed in this light.
----
*[[{{JerkWithAHeartOfGold/Anime}} Anime and Manga]]
*[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold/ComicBooks Comics]]
*{{JerkWithAHeartOfGold/Film}}
*{{JerkWithAHeartOfGold/Literature}}
*JerkWithAHeartOfGold/LiveActionTV
*JerkWithAHeartOfGold/VideoGames
*JerkWithAHeartOfGold/WebOriginal
*JerkWithAHeartOfGold/WesternAnimation
*{{JerkWithAHeartOfGold/Others}}
----
<<|CharactersAsDevice|>>
<<|TheStoic|>>
<<|MultiPageTropes|>>
----
See, this page is just a big ol' softie.