How Millionaires Get Rich - businessnewsdaily.com (2024)

  • There are two types of millionaires: self-made millionaires and those born into wealth.
  • More than two-thirds of individuals with a net worth of $30 million or more are considered “self-made.”
  • No matter how millionaires get their money, they all share some core traits, including prioritizing savings and diversifying investments.
  • This article is for those curious about how self-made millionaires got to where they are today and hoping to learn something from their success.

Most of today’s millionaires weren’t born into their wealth, research shows.

A 2019 study published by Wealth-X found that around 68% of those with a net worth of $30 million or more made it themselves.

Further, a second study by Fidelity Investmentsfound that 88% of all millionaires are self-made, meaning they did not inherit their wealth.

The Fidelity study also revealed that self-made millionaires’ top sources of assets were investments/capital appreciation, compensation and employee stock options/profit sharing. This path is markedly different from those who inherited their wealth, who are more likely to cite entrepreneurship, real estate investment appreciation and the inheritance itself as asset sources.

For self-made millionaires, though, coming into wealth isn’t always a simple process – many of them worked hard to achieve the financial success they did, and then had the smarts and savvy and put their new wealth in the right places. What do some of these self-made millionaires have in common, and what lessons can you learn for your own investment strategy?

What traits do millionaires have in common?

The Fidelity study results showed that even though millionaires have different ways of making money, they often share these traits:

  • They set ambitious goals and act on them. Self-made millionaires put their ideas and dreams into action, whether that’s starting a business or achieving other professional or personal pursuits. This determination is a common driver among many who made their millions without an inheritance.
  • They have mentors. Many self-made millionaires are quick to admit that they cannot possibly know how to do everything. They reach out to others who know the ins and outs of different types of saving and investing, tapping into the best minds on each subject for perspective and insight. That certainly pays off.
  • They look for feedback. For a self-made millionaire, self-improvement never stops. Self-made millionaires look for critique and feedback in their ideas and business practices, ensuring that they can better identify blind spots and guarantee that their ventures will succeed.
  • They are not afraid of failure. Millionaires understand the benefits of learning lessons through failure. However, the risks they take are thoroughly calculated and each scenario played out. Once they commit to something, they give their all.
  • They understand the value of time. Time is money, and millionaires know this all too They quickly learn how to manage their time, and they know that there is no reason to trade time for money.

Surveys show that millionaires share many traits in common, including ambition, the value of time, not being afraid of failure, and knowing when to ask the experts for help.

What do millionaires do with their money?

When it comes to investment strategies, self-made millionaires were more likely to add equity investments, while those who were born wealthy typically had more real estate investments, according to the study.Diversifying those investments is key among many millionaires.

Millionaires put their money in a variety of places, including their primary residence, mutual funds, stocks and retirement accounts. Millionaires focus on putting their money where it is going to grow. They are careful not to invest large sums into items that will depreciate. A car for everyday driving, for example, will most likely lose value over time.

The key for most millionaires is to save money before spending it. No matter how much their annual salary may be, most millionaires put their money where it will grow, usually in stocks, bonds, and other types of stable investments.

Key Takeaway

Millionaires put their money into places where it will grow such as mutual funds, stocks and retirement accounts.

Examples of self-made millionaires

According to the same Wealth-X study discussed earlier in this article, as of 2018, a little over 265,000 individuals are considered ultra-wealthy, meaning they have a net worth of $30 million or more. Moreover, more than two-thirds are self-made. Here are three famous examples:

  • Barbara Corcoran: The real estate mogul turned Shark Tank investor started her eponymous brokerage business with a $1,000 loan. Under her supervision, shegrew the business into a multi-million-dollar empire that she sold for $66 million in 2001.
  • Janice Bryant Howroyd. The founder and CEO of ActOne Group started her staffing agency with $1,500 ($900 of which she borrowed from her mother), a fax machine, and a phone. She is now one of the richest self-made Black women millionaires in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of $285 million.
  • Warren Buffet. Perhaps one of the most famous and richest people in the world – and technically a billionaire and not a millionaire — Warren Buffett still merits a mention in this list because he is well known for being self-made. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO made his first millions by running a hedge fund and is known for his principled and sensible approach to investing.

What are the best ways to become a millionaire?

The Fidelity study showed that when considering their financial future, 30% of the millionaires surveyed said they were concerned with preserving their wealth, while 20% said they were focused on growing their fortune. This forms the basis of some basic strategies if you’re hoping to join the millionaire ranks.

“Today’s millionaires are multidimensional, and to really understand them, you need to look not only at their outlook but also at their path to wealth and their financial goals for the future,” said Sanjiv Mirchandani, president of National Financial, a Fidelity Investments company.

Millionaires suggest several paths to building your wealth. Here are a few that you can learn from yourself:

Invest in different places and avenues

Don’t put your eggs in one basket. Diversifying your investments helps manage risk by ensuring that all your money is not at risk if a particular investment goes south.

Have multiple streams of income

Many self-made millionaires have money coming in from several places, including their salaries, dividends from investments, income from rental properties, and investments they have made in other business enterprises, to name a few examples. If one income stream slows down, there’s another that can take its place. Much of this is called passive income, or money being earned without actively spending time and effort in the enterprise.

Save, save, save

One common theme you’ll hear from self-made millionaires is to hold on to your money. Put your money in investment accounts where it can sit and earn interest over time (even though interest rates are much lower than they used to be).

How Millionaires Get Rich - businessnewsdaily.com (2024)

FAQs

What creates 90% of millionaires? ›

“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” This famous quote from Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs of all time, is just as relevant today as it was more than a century ago. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have built their wealth through real estate.

What is the secret to becoming a millionaire Ramsey classroom? ›

Invest early and consistently

If you start putting away $300 a month beginning at age 25, assuming an 11% rate of return, you could be a millionaire by age 57. If you kept on investing and retire 10 years later, you'd be sitting pretty on a $3.2 million nest egg.

What is the number one key to wealth building according to millionaires? ›

When our team completed The National Study of Millionaires, we found that 93% of millionaires said they stick to the budgets they create. Ninety-three percent! Getting on a budget is the foundation of any wealth-building plan.

Do millionaires keep their money in the bank? ›

High net worth investors typically keep millions of dollars or even tens of millions in cash in their bank accounts to cover bills and unexpected expenses. Their balances are often way above the $250,000 FDIC insured limit.

Is it true that 90% of millionaires make over $100000 a year? ›

Choose the right career

And one crucial detail to note: Millionaire status doesn't equal a sky-high salary. “Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career,” the study found, “and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.”

What are the 3 things millionaires do not do? ›

He also identified three money habits that successful self-made millionaires avoid at all costs.
  • They don't have a wallet full of exclusive credit cards. ...
  • They avoid giving large gifts to their children, or supporting them financially as adults. ...
  • They don't spend hours managing their investments.
Nov 24, 2020

What is the quickest way to become a millionaire? ›

The quickest, right way to become a millionaire is to consistently invest over a long period of time. It's not shocking or flashy, but it works. Don't get distracted by market swings, trendy stocks or get-rich-quick schemes.

What's the quickest way to become rich? ›

The 5 Fastest Ways To Become Rich, According To Experts
  • Avoid (and Pay Down) Debt. Debt is not necessarily bad in all instances, but it is something to be avoided most of the time. ...
  • Spend Intentionally and Minimize Costs. ...
  • Invest as Much as Possible in a Diversified Portfolio. ...
  • Work On Your Career. ...
  • Find Extra Work.
May 15, 2023

How much money do you need to be a true millionaire? ›

A net-worth millionaire is someone who has a net worth of at least $1,000,000.

What is the 1 thing it takes to create wealth? ›

While get-rich-quick schemes sometimes may be enticing, the tried-and-true way to build wealth is through regular saving and investing—and patiently allowing that money to grow over time. It's fine to start small. The important thing is to start, and to start early. Earn money and then save and invest it smartly.

What occupation has the most millionaires? ›

In broader terms, the finance and investment profession has the most millionaires. It also has the most billionaires, with 371. Here's a list of the seven best careers if you want to be a millionaire.

What is the first ingredient to building wealth? ›

discipline; According to Dave discipline is the key to wealth building.

Where is the safest place to keep cash at home? ›

Where to safely keep cash at home. Just like any other piece of paper, cash can get lost, wet or burned. Consider buying a fireproof and waterproof safe for your home. It's also useful for storing other valuables in your home such as jewelry and important personal documents.

How much cash in the bank is considered rich? ›

Someone who has $1 million in liquid assets, for instance, is usually considered to be a high net worth (HNW) individual. You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth.

How much money is suspicious to deposit? ›

The $10,000 Rule

Ever wondered how much cash deposit is suspicious? The Rule, as created by the Bank Secrecy Act, declares that any individual or business receiving more than $10 000 in a single or multiple cash transactions is legally obligated to report this to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

How much is considered extremely wealthy? ›

You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth. That's how financial advisors typically view wealth.

Do millionaires have a lot of cash? ›

Many millionaires keep a lot of their money in cash or highly liquid cash equivalents. And they tend to establish an emergency account even before making investments. Millionaires also bank differently than the rest of us.

Are most millionaires married or single? ›

Married: Love and marriage. It just so happens that 86% of millionaires are married, including an impressive 65% who are in their first marriage, according to US Trust's “Insights on Wealth and Worth.”

Do millionaires pay off their house? ›

Most have paid off their mortgages. In 2020, 58% of the state's equity millionaires owned their homes free and clear. Statewide, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of Californians who have paid off their mortgages, from 1.6 million households in 2000 to 2.4 million in 2020.

What are bad habits of millionaires? ›

The habits that worked against building wealth included overspending, engaging in negative self-talk, maintaining toxic relationships, and unhealthy eating and drinking behaviors.

What food do rich people eat? ›

Costliest food items in the world only rich people can afford
  • Ayam Cemani Black Chicken. Priced at over $200 per kilogram in Indonesia. ...
  • Saffron. Priced at $500 per ounce. ...
  • Wagyu beef. Priced at around $500 per kilogram. ...
  • Madagascar vanilla pod. Priced at $600 per pound. ...
  • Kopi Luwak. ...
  • Moose cheese. ...
  • Iberian ham. ...
  • Black watermelon.
Jan 27, 2023

Can I live off interest on a million dollars? ›

The historical S&P average annualized returns have been 9.2%. So investing $1,000,000 in the stock market will get you the equivalent of $96,352 in interest in a year. This is enough to live on for most people.

How to turn $100 K into $1 million in 5 years? ›

Consider investing in rental properties or real estate investment trusts (REIT). The real estate market is a fertile setting for a $100k investment to yield $1 million. And it's possible for this to happen between 5 to 10 years. You can achieve this if you continue to add new properties to your portfolio.

What jobs make you a millionaire fast? ›

The jobs of millionaires
  • Investment banker.
  • Certified public accountant.
  • Entrepreneur.
  • Day trader.
  • Real estate agent.
  • Engineer.
  • Lawyer.
  • Actuary.
Apr 14, 2023

How do most people get rich? ›

No matter how much their annual salary may be, most millionaires put their money where it will grow, usually in stocks, bonds, and other types of stable investments. Millionaires put their money into places where it will grow such as mutual funds, stocks and retirement accounts.

How to get rich without a job? ›

How to Make Money Without a Job: 11 Ways in 2022
  1. 1 11 ways to make money without a real job. Get paid to test websites. Become a crowdworker. Design and sell t-shirts. Work as a transcriber. Shop for others. Sell crafts online. ...
  2. 2 Being unemployed doesn't have to mean being without money.
  3. 3 Want to learn more?
Feb 8, 2022

How do most people become millionaires? ›

67.7% are self-made. 23.7% made their money from a combination of their own efforts and inheritance. 8.5% inherited their wealth entirely.

What is Rule 72 millionaire? ›

The rule of 72 is a simple way to calculate how long it will take for an investment to double. All you need to do is divide 72 by the annual rate of return. For example, if you're earning a 6% annual return, it will take 72/6, or 12 years, for your investment to double.

Can I retire with $3 million at 60? ›

Yes, you can retire at 60 with three million dollars. At age 60, an annuity will provide a guaranteed income of $183,000 annually, starting immediately for the rest of the insured's lifetime.

How can you tell if someone is a millionaire? ›

Someone is considered a millionaire when their net worth, or their assets minus their liabilities, totals $1 million or more.

What is one secret of wealth? ›

They Set and Achieve Goals

Wealthy people don't simply expect to make more money; they plan and work toward their financial goals. They have a clear vision of what they want and take the necessary steps to get there.

What is the secret of getting wealth? ›

Having a plan is by far the most important secret of all. A goal without a plan is just a wish, so for you to achieve your financial goals, you need to plan out your investments. When you plan and map out your goals, it's easier to measure your results against your goals and hold yourself accountable.

What are the secret of making wealth? ›

Spend less than you earn. Live below your means. Save the remaining and invest where it grows steadily over time. That is how you build wealth fast.

What jobs pay $1 million a month? ›

9 Best Million Dollar Jobs for Regular People
  • Company Executives.
  • Entrepreneurs.
  • Real Estate Agents.
  • Investment Bankers.
  • Franchise Owners.
  • Surgeons.
  • Law Firm Partners.
  • Management Consultants.
Jan 18, 2023

What is the most successful job in the world? ›

So, given below is an updated list of the most paid jobs in the world.
  1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ...
  2. Medical Professionals. ...
  3. Corporate Lawyer. ...
  4. Investment Banker. ...
  5. Data Scientist. ...
  6. Project Manager. ...
  7. Senior Software Engineer. ...
  8. Web Developers.
May 9, 2023

What is the average salary of a millionaire? ›

As of May 12, 2023, the average annual pay for the Millionaire jobs category in the United States is $47,712 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $22.94 an hour.

What are the 7 master secrets of wealth creation? ›

The easy-to-remember S.E.C.R.E.T.S. acronym stands for Safety, Expense, Cash Flow, Rate of Return, Economy, Tax Efficiency, and (common) Sense.

What are the 4 key things you need to build wealth? ›

In order to build wealth, families need to have little or no debt, an emergency fund, investable money and confidence in their skills as an investor, according to the report. Note that it's important to prioritize paying off debt and building up an emergency fund first before using leftover money to invest.

How do most millionaires start making money? ›

The stock market is one of the primary sources of income for the rich. Many wealthy individuals invest in stocks and bonds as a way to generate passive income. According to one of the largest studies of millionaires ever conducted, millionaires did not build a net worth of a million dollars or more through inheritance.

What creates the most millionaires? ›

The financial service industry has created the most millionaires in modern times. The financial system manages the money of people worldwide.

What do most millionaires come from? ›

67.7% are self-made. 23.7% made their money from a combination of their own efforts and inheritance. 8.5% inherited their wealth entirely.

Are 90% of millionaires self-made? ›

However, according to research, the majority of millionaires are self-made, meaning they have built their wealth through hard work, dedication, and smart financial decisions. A study conducted by Fidelity Investments found that 88% of millionaires are self-made.

Who makes up the most millionaires? ›

The finance and investments industry produces the highest number of millionaires. This industry has 371 billionaires that work within it, not to mention millionaires. The top five industries for producing millionaires are: Finance and Investments.

What is common in all millionaires? ›

Millionaires have more in common with each other than just their bank accounts—for some millionaires, striking it rich took courage, salesmanship, vision, and passion. Find out which traits are most common among the seven-figure bank account set and what you can do to build some of these skills yourself.

What do millionaires do all day? ›

A significant percentage of self-made millionaires do 30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise every day, like running, jogging, walking, or biking. Approximately 88% of self-made millionaires spend 30 minutes or more a day reading. What kinds of books do they read? Biographies, self-help books, and history books.

Do most millionaires come from poor families? ›

Millionaires Are Made, Not Born

In fact, the majority of millionaires didn't even grow up around a lot of money. According to the survey, 8 out of 10 millionaires come from families at or below middle-income level. Only 2% of millionaires surveyed said they came from an upper-income family.

Do millionaires own their homes? ›

With rapid price appreciation between 2020 and 2022, we estimate that approximately 1.2 million California households are now home-equity millionaires. Who are these house-rich Californians? Most have paid off their mortgages. In 2020, 58% of the state's equity millionaires owned their homes free and clear.

What do rich people invest in? ›

Ultra-wealthy individuals invest in such assets as private and commercial real estate, land, gold, and even artwork. Real estate continues to be a popular asset class in their portfolios to balance out the volatility of stocks.

Are most rich people born rich? ›

Wealth-building journeys

According to data: 27% of the ultra wealthy are self made: It defines them as people with a "middle-class or poor upbringing and no inheritance." 46% have a head start: Almost half the super rich people surveyed either had some inherited wealth or an affluent upbringing.

At what age does the average person become a millionaire? ›

This is according to a study conducted by Ramsey Solutions, which is the largest study of millionaires to date. The average age of a millionaire is 49 years old, which means it takes them over 27 years of saving and investing to reach this status. This may seem daunting, but the truth is, it's never too late to start.

How many 401k millionaires are there? ›

The number of 401(k) millionaires in Fidelity-managed plans is relatively small, just shy of 1.4 percent out of 21.5 million accounts. That segment peaked in 2021, at 442,000, with a median balance of $1.3 million, according to Mike Shamrell, vice president for workplace thought leadership for Fidelity.

What percentage of US population has $2 million dollars? ›

Additionally, statistics show that the top 2% of the United States population has a net worth of about $2.4 million. On the other hand, the top 5% wealthiest Americans have a net worth of just over $1 million. Therefore, about 2% of the population possesses enough wealth to meet the current definition of being rich.

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