Rich= A family's net worth (after taxes, depreciation,outstanding obligations) = $20million+ in present day dollars. Of course, this number goes up as the dollar weakens.
$20million after tax assets earning a piddly 5% interest rate each year would be about $1million in pretax income, half of which would end up going to uncle sam, which by my book would be enough F.U. money to support a family without having to work full time for someone(s) that you normally would not want to do.
I don't equate one's salary to "rich". First off, it's more about how much one keeps than earns. Two, salaries come and go. Three, several CEO's have a $1 salary, but are sitting on a pile of equity (which by the way probably means they don't end up having to pay social security taxes, SDI,etc, because that comes from W-2's.)
One of these days, my company will be bought by google or the like and perhaps I can relate (yeah right).
