$500k a year will make you comfortable within 1% in the United States ($388,905).

http://money.cnn.com/2014/04/04/pf/taxes/top-1-taxes/

Even in San Diego ($428,000), you are well ahead of 1%er.

http://gis.mtc.ca.gov/home/images/motm/motm212.pdf

Just since when is top 1% income “ain’t that rich”?