What Do Millionaires Really Look Like?
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (98084)
United States
February 22, 2025 9:05am CST
Many people have visions of millionaires that are of people living high off the hog, lavishly adorned with valuable things surrounding them. The reality for MOST millionaires is much different than that.
Most millionaires do not drive fancy cars. They drive late model ones that are practical and get the job done.
Most millionaires don't live in fancy homes in posh neighborhoods. They live in modest homes in comfortable, safe communities.
Most millionaires don't shop at fancy, high end stores. They shop frugally in thrift stores or discount stores.
Most millionaires don't follow fashion trends. They wear what is comfortable and value priced.
Most millionaires don't eat al a carte at fine dining establishments. They eat at places where the food is good and plentiful and price-wise.
Most millionaires don't stay in luxurious hotels when they travel. They stay in reasonably priced establishments that offer just the basic accommodations and amenities.
Most millionaires do not spend lavishly. They spend purposefully and watch their pennies very closely.
The bottom line is that most millionaires are invisible. They live among us like the rest of us and are hard to pick out of a crowd. They are not outward in their appearances displaying wealth. The only way you know if they are millionaires is if you ask them, and they acknowledge it.
In many circles, this is known as "silent wealth," or "stealth wealth." 9 times out of 10, if you think someone is rich based on where they live, what they drive, what they wear, or how many vacations they take...
You are not seeing the millionaires.
5 people like this
5 responses
@1creekgirl (43066)
• United States
22 Feb
A lot of those definitions are the reason they're millionaires.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (123170)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Feb
Our culture pushes on us the false notion that to be rich you have to look and act rich and flaunt your wealth. In reality, quite the opposite is true.
3 people like this
@porwest (98084)
• United States
22 Feb
@moffittjc Part of it is that this is first generation wealth. Doing these things is what got them there and so it's sort of built into their psyche. And for most millionaires, it was never about the money as much as it was about the freedom it provides.
These are self-made people.
Second generation wealth who inherit some of it will usually be similar to their parents since they saw the struggle and saw how the money was made and how the wealth was created. By the third generation, the money is usually squandered and they do all the things we think of when we think of millionaires, because they never saw the struggles or saw how the money was made. They were born and it was just there.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (49099)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Feb
I'm a millionaire... I have a million aches and pains, not to mention excuses for not doing the housework. 
3 people like this
@Tina30219 (82827)
• Onaway, Michigan
22 Feb
No I am definitely not seeing millionaires where I live I do not even know of any
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82827)
• Onaway, Michigan
23 Feb
@porwest Right you just never know who one is
1 person likes this
@porwest (98084)
• United States
22 Feb
But that's the point. You MIGHT know someone. You just can't tell. Because the real ones are harder to detect.
The guy you see with the fancy house who always wears name brand clothes sporting around in a BMW is...
Mot likely NOT a millionaire.
The guy down the street who drives an older F-150, who lives modestly? He just might be one.
@moffittjc (123170)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Feb
I have two very close friends who are multi-millionaires. Both live in modest houses in modest neighborhoods, both are blue collar workers, and pretty much dress in old jeans and t-shirts.. And interestingly, both drive really old Ford F-150s.
Hey, I drive a relatively old F-150. Maybe that means I am on my way to being a silent millionaire! lol
In all honestly, barring any major setbacks, I should achieve millionaire status within the next 5-6 years based on my current level of investing and saving and return on investments.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (123170)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Mar
@porwest I remember reading about the Ford trucks too. In fact, when I worked for Walmart, Sam Walton visited our store once and he drove up in an old beat up Ford F-150.
1 person likes this
@porwest (98084)
• United States
14 Mar
There was actually a survey done once that I read that said THE most common vehicle of choice for millionaires are F-150s. As for achieving millionaire status, it definitely makes life more comfortable, and the best part is once you're there, getting to multi-millionaire becomes easier and faster.
1 person likes this
@porwest (98084)
• United States
22 Feb
The point is not that someone is a millionaire. It's understanding how they got there and learning from them and their habits. As I have said many times, wealth is not about having money and it's not about flaunting it. It's about not being a slave to money and jobs, but living your life fully and completely, doing things on your terms, not someone else's.
Usually someone who makes a comment such as yours resents people who have wealth. It makes no sense to resent someone for that.
1 person likes this
