The phrase "golden shovel" means turning something positive into something negative. It refers to a situation where someone takes something good or valuable and uses it for their own selfish or improper purposes. Full definition
I'm a great manager who loves a mountain of work on my desk and a team full of people with golden shovels. (members.climber.com)
Golden shovels in hand, town supervisor Jeanne Walsh and Town Board members past and present pried up clumps of sod on the site where a gleaming new pool is slated to replace the old one in time for the 2016 swimming season. (hudsonvalleyone.com)
Golden trees appear only in Animal Crossing, where golden shovels and NES games grow from it. (nookipedia.com)