If you want actual stats, only about 3% of the US population had a net worth of 1mil+ (remember that 5% had 100k+ income so ppl obviously can't save that 10%), and the avg millionaire is 56 years old meaning that the majority of people who do get to being a millionaire don't reach that point until right before retirement. Granted, America is a rich country, but the 30 or 40 year old millionaire we like to imagine or see on TV is definetly not very common at all. I'd be willing to bet that of most people who make it to millionaire, back at age 25, the majority were actually in sizeable debts from loans taken out to get their degree or for starting their business... spend $ to make $