I haven’t got the salary you want (unless, like other Dopers, you drop some zeroes off the end).
But as others have said, there are more important things than money. In ascending order of importance:
I have enough money to live on, and some left over for savings and occasional luxuries. (I’ve got **two **computers!).
I’ve got the best job in the world. (blush)
I’ve got my health
I’ve got friends and family
Hmmm. I guess I’m wealthy. I don’t have the huge salary, though.
Not sure how much I want to share, but salary is not a good indicator of wealth.
The wealthiest guy I know never made more than 18k a year, but he invested well, and lived modestly.
I’ve seen Drs. who make 500k a year who have a negative net worth.
I’ve watched somebody blow a multimillion dollar inheritance in two years with nothing to show for it.
Being wealthy is fundamentally a lifestyle choice, IMO.
Working on it…
Anyone want to invest in an offshore hedge fund? Anyone? We’re really good!
I guess I’d have to say that I’m in the upper-middle class arena because of where I live. I earn a South African paycheck living in the Czech Republic. Which would be comparable to someone earning a Tokyo salary living in, say, Seattle or maybe San Diego. I walk around with $50 in cash in my pocket, and often buy the drinks when I meet friends/someone at a bar. Then again, beer only costs $0.35 a half liter…but still.
We don’t own a car, don’t have to pay for health or car insurance, only pay $400 a month in living expenses and my student loans are almost paid off after only 5 years. Once they are paid off, we’ll be able to live on my wife’s paycheck and invest all of mine. And still have money to go on 3 week vacations every year (but we love to travel, so we devote 1.5 months of my salary to travel).
That said, I probably earn less then most working people here, in US$. Depending on the exchange rate, I take home about $18,000 a year.
Now, if I were making the US paycheck that most working expats earn…oh jeez would that be a different story! My neighbor has monthly expenses of $500 a month, but probably takes home over $125,000 a year. Yes, he wears Armani suits, yes, he NEVER eats at home, yes, he takes his girlfriend on business trips…That guy has SSSOOOOOOOO much disposable income it is sick. And most of the expats I know are in the same boat. They just work for the US or UK, I just work for a middlin’ country.
But if this new venture works out- aaaawwwww yyyeaaahhhh…I hope to have $250k invested in the next 10 years, and then I’ll be able to retire here at age 40. The lifestyle I hope to be able to live will be comparable to someone with $1 million in the States. Buy a ranch, grow some grapes, make my wine and travel 3 months of the year. And when I die- leave nothing behind. Who wants to die rich? My kids will have to work like I did, they ain’t getting dink. Builds character (and lets me own a home theatre system with ALL the bells and whistles).
-Tcat
I was a millionaire on paper for like two weeks back when the stock market was good. That was a before-tax millionaire. After tax, it would have been a chunk less. And I didn’t sell any, so I’m screwed. The stock went from $170 to about $30 right now, so, um, I’m not a millionaire any more. Not anywhere close. <bangs head on desk>
Still, Mr. Athena and I make more money than I ever planned on making. We’re not rollin’ in the dough, but we’ve got a decent net worth. He can buy big telescopes and motorcycles and it doesn’t hurt the bottom line much. I can buy, um, let’s see, any books I want, and all the new computer games even if I don’t play them a lot. Used to be that the only way I’d spend $30 on a game was if I knew it was good enough that I’d play it a lot. Now I’ll spend $30 just to try it out. There’s my definition of “wealthy” - I can blow $30 whenever I want.
“Really wealthy” means I could quit my job and play instead of working all day. I’m a far cry from that.
I’m a university student - about as unwealthy as they come.
I am Elmer J. Fudd, millionaire. I own a mansion and a yacht.
I never believed it when I was in college, but I had more disposable income in college than I do now. I make a lot more now, but I have to pay for a lot more as well. Then again, I was a bit spoiled by having the bank of Mom and Dad finance my education.
Wealthy is, truly, a relative thing.
It’s true, as mrblue points out, that 30K in most of the rest of the world would be living large. Try that in NYC or LA or DC and you’re scraping bottom.
And Scylla’s right, too. Being wealthy isn’t a matter of salary, it’s a matter of how you handle what you have. Wealth isn’t money. Wealth is things and power and the control of them. Money is just a means of keeping score. Remember how Spain got screwed in the 1500’s.
Me? We’re cool. We’re not independently wealthy but we bought a house at the right time (now assessed at 2.2 times what we paid for it). We both have good jobs with loads of upward mobility. We can afford what we want when we want it. Our savings plan is moving forward (auto-deduction is a wonderful thing) and Baby Kate’s education is all paid up.
That’s where it’s at. I can remember when we were starting out…if either of us wanted to buy a book (paperback) we had to budget it to make it work.
Lot’s of Ramen and Cheesy Mac in those days, let me tell you.
Personally, I’m not hugely wealthy - I have a nicely positive net worth, and some good investments, but I still have a mortgage on my home, which precludes true wealthyness.
I do, however, have some genuinely, WEALTHY older relatives.
Al.
Well, I think Scylla and J. Chance are onto something.
To me, being “wealthy” may be more more about having assets and/or financial freedom. Mr. Cranky and I are very cash-poor right now, but that’s because we can afford to be. Our cars were both bought with cash; he made a hefty downpayment on the condo so mortgage payments aren’t killer, etc. I’m socking away the maximum into my retirement, blah blah blah. We’re both working part-time right now (mostly by choice) and I see it as a privilege that we can “afford” to do it, even though it means we’re eating out less and making major purchases more rarely and carefully.
So most months you’ll hear me say, quite truthfully, that I am broke. But I know I fit in fairly well in the middle class bracket in other ways. Income low, assets okay.
I should point out that right at this stage of the month I’m sweating a bit when I write checks. 
I am not wealthy. I make an average salary, most of which goes toward maintaining my household and raising my son.
My boyfriend, however, has $300K in his savings account, and it is growing. He also has an investment portfolio that I don’t want to know anything about.
Wealthy? You bet!
I live in a small town in the mountains. I can walk one house left and be in the trees in 10 minutes. I can walk for 28 miles south before I hit a paved road. I can walk to the downtown bars in 12 minutes.
I have good friends. Some are from high school, some are newer. I can find a place to eat or crash in most cities and towns within 500 miles.
I have a 10 year old pickup, a fly rod, skis, a raft, a backpack, a skateboard, and a hackey sack, plus lots of other sports gear.
I have a dog.
I have a library card.
I understand the intent of the OP, but I’ve been poor and I’ve been rich. Rich is better, but I long ago figured out that if I have a dog, a truck, some sports gear, friends, and a library card, I can be the richest man in the world. Being in love and being loved makes it even better. (As I remember.)
OTH: I make twice the median salary for my state. I ain’t rich wise, but I don't have to worry about .
Whistlepig:
My pickup truck’s 22 years old, and I also have friends, a library card, live in a small town, and have a dog.
I’m richer than you are, Nyahh, nyahh, nyahhh.
I’ll be rich in a year or two.
No, really.
I may not have money, but by god I’ve got the biggest dick you’ve ever seen.
I doubt that. I’m engaged to Gunslinger. 
This fellow who lived in a small town in a rural area was taking his first airplane trip. As it happened, he was seated next to a flashy, talkative Texan rancher. Wasn’t far into the flight before the Texan was telling the fellow all about his life down in Texas. After yammering on about how much bigger and better everything was down there, he moved on to talking about his own holdings:
Texan: “And my ranch? Well let me tell you, it’s a big 'un. You know, I can get in my pickup and ride east for half the day and still not be to the end of my property line!”
Fellow: “Yeah, I got a pickup truck just like that.”
My parents pay my university fees as well. I get $50 a week pocket money, about $50 a week from eBay, my boyfriend drives me places and pays for mostly everything … and I’m still broke.
I’m clothes-wealthy, if that counts.
Scylla had a good point in that it’s about how you live, how much you can save, and how you use the money you save.
I worked my way through Univerisity, and avoided student loans as much as humanly possible. I could have had a lot more fun, but I didn’t want the debt. I didn’t do junior year abroad, I saved a plane ticket, went abroad and worked, and came back with money instead of only having a good time. I first broke 6 figures working in Tokyo 10 years ago as an investment banker, which in Tokyo back then was almost a starvation wage. But I lived in a 170 sq ft apartment, didn’t go out that much, and only took one vacation a year. I had colleages with housing allowances never mind bonus greater than my total compensation. I also saved more money than they did. sure, they had more “fun” but I know more than a few 10 year investment bank veterns with debt and no assets.
I own two condos now, rent one out, live in the other and still have a nice nest egg in the bank. Could have bought a bigger nicer condo to live in, but then wouldn’t have the investment property. I don’t have any where near drop dead money, but I’ve got rental income, a decent place to live, am debt free and can pay for my daughters university. I also live in a place where you can go out for a great Chinese dinner for 4 in a nice restaurant and get way with a $20 bill. We’ve got a nanny but not a car, yet. So, I’m comfortable but not wealthy.
I make a very modest salary–which itself is more than I ever thought I’d make just a couple of years ago. but I’m a writer covering personal finances. So over time, I plan to become very well off very slowly. Still just getting over some rough years, though. My hat’s off to everyone still struggling. Things can turn around!!! Save money. Invest! Stay out of consumer debt! Give to charity! Educate yourselves!
One great book I’d recommend to everyone here is “The Millionaire Next Door.”