bingo!
i think alot of the replies on here have been percieved number type responses. example: if i had X million dollars based on how i think i'd live, i'd be fine (or i'd not see the end of the money). your perception is a finality. my perception is more ongoing. i dont think its valuable to have money just tied up in some liquid account and you chip away at it as you live. its not realistic and not how the rich do things. having cash like that sitting around is foolish because it can be making you more money, and is also available to those who sue you. no one mentioned where they kept their money, so im assuming its sitting in mom&pops credit union, or under the mattress.
now on to my perception of rich:
passive cashflow coming in to exceed my living/lifestyle expenses (whatever i may decide to do within reason). a bit of excess income that i can put into other investments to allow me and others around me to live better. of course this means im not working for someone (jobwise)as well. if i do have a job, its for fun....and a business i own.