Yes, $10 million is a significant amount of money, generally considered "very high net worth" (VHNW) by financial institutions, allowing for a very comfortable lifestyle or early retirement with substantial passive income (e.g., $400k/year at 4% return). However, perspectives vary; some experts argue it's the new benchmark for being truly "rich," while others note inflation and lifestyle creep mean it might not cover everything or last multiple generations without careful management, especially compared to ultra-high net worth ($30M+).
While exact global figures fluctuate, recent estimates from early 2025 show over 2.3 million people worldwide had a net worth exceeding $10 million, with the U.S. housing nearly 40% of them, roughly 900,000 individuals, making North America the leading region for this high-net-worth group.
Decamillionaire is a term used for someone with a net worth of over 10 million of a given currency, most often U.S. dollars, euros, or pounds sterling. The term decamillionaire is made up of two words, “deca” and “millionaire.” The word “deca” or “deka” is of Greek origin, meaning ten.
As we noted up top, with $10 million in retirement savings, you very likely can generate more than enough income to live a very comfortable life. Even without investment growth, $10 million allows you to withdraw $100,000 per year for 100 years.
How much money you need to be considered wealthy across the U.S.—it's over $2 million in most places. To be considered wealthy in the U.S., Americans say you need a net worth of $2.3 million in 2025 — but that number can be even higher depending on where you live.
Usually, a HNW client has a net worth between £1 million and £5 million in assets that can easily and quickly be converted into cash (known as liquid assets). However, HMRC defines an HMW individual as someone with over £10 million. There are different tiers of HNW clients.
MILLIONAIRESS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster.
According to Financial Samurai, $10 million is the baseline for true generational wealth. Why? Because this amount can provide long-term financial security while allowing investments to continue growing.
9 Signs of Wealth to Look Out For
Let's assume the 4% withdrawal rate commonly cited in retirement planning. A $10 million portfolio is likely to last 30 years or more, although actual longevity depends on market performance and spending habits.
While exact global figures fluctuate, recent estimates from early 2025 show over 2.3 million people worldwide had a net worth exceeding $10 million, with the U.S. housing nearly 40% of them, roughly 900,000 individuals, making North America the leading region for this high-net-worth group.
Your equivalised net property wealth of £??? puts you in the of households in Great Britain. The top 10% of households have an average equivalised net property wealth of £480,000, while 33% of households have no property wealth.
Being rich often means having a high income and spending lavishly on lifestyle (cars, clothes, vacations), while being wealthy means having significant, income-producing assets that generate passive income, ensuring long-term financial security and independence, even without a high salary. The core difference is income vs. assets, with the rich focusing on spending money and the wealthy focusing on having money make money, building lasting independence.
A secondary level, a very-high-net-worth individual (VHNWI, ), is someone with at least US$5 million in investable assets. The terminal level, an ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI, the ultra-rich, super-rich, extreme wealth, or a billionaire ), holds US$30 million in investable assets (adjusted for inflation).
Factors like disciplined investing, entrepreneurship, or high-income careers in finance, tech, or law often propel individuals into this bracket. A $10 million net worth places households in an even more exclusive category, with around 2.13 million households, or 1.62% of the total, meeting this benchmark.
It doesn't make someone a millionaire if they are paying a mortgage on a home that is worth $1M. It only makes them in debt for the amount of the mortgage. If they ever pay off that loan, and the property is still accurately appraised at $1M+, then they would be a millionaire, but not before.
The benchmark reflects the longer time savings must last and the delay in Social Security eligibility. For someone expecting to spend $60,000 annually in retirement, that would mean accumulating roughly $2 million in savings by age 55.
The Super Consumers Australia guide
It assumes you'll own your home and won't be paying rent or mortgage repayments once you've retired. The guide estimates a 'medium' lifestyle will cost a couple who are already retired about $60,000 per year (with a required super balance at retirement of $371,000).