What does it mean to be "rich"?

Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), who founded the United States Steel Corporation, was the wealthiest American of his time and one of the richest men in the world. In today's dollars, Carnegie's net worth was about $400 billion. 

John Pierpont Morgan, a contemporary of Carnegie's was also hugely wealthy. But when Morgan died, and the extent of his holdings became public, Andrew Carnegie was shocked. He said, "I never realized Morgan wasn't even rich!"

Carnegie was an interesting character. He was wealthy, and also a philosopher of wealth. He said, "Whoever dies rich, dies in disgrace." So he funded the building of 2509 libraries around the world. Alas, he probably still died "in disgrace."

What about you? Are you rich? Truman Capote said that a rich person was someone who had instant access to ten million dollars in cash. But he said that in the 1970s, a long time ago. Today it would have to be a hundred million, or even a billion.

Do you meet that criterion? If not, can you still be rich?

Everyone should evolve a personal definition of wealth that fits their individual aspirations and circumstances. Or, at least, everyone should try to evolve that definition for myself. Maybe I've been too busy trying to make money. 

Here's a really good article on these matters. It won't make you rich but it might make you think:

http://business.time.com/2013/07/24/what-it-means-to-be-wealthy-in-america-today/