Not sure how rich you are? Find out with this inflation-adjusted calculator based on the teachings of Felix Dennis’ in the classic title “How to Get Rich.” Discover where you stand from ‘The Comfortable Poor’ to ‘The Super Rich.’
Build a plan to get path to the next tier based on key wealth factors like net worth and cash-in-hand equivalents.
Wealth Level Calculator
Liquid Assets
Illiquid Assets
Liabilities
Your Wealth Summary
Felix Dennis Says:
How this calculator works
This calculator helps you determine your wealth level using two key measurements established by Felix Dennis, the late multi-millionaire founder of Dennis Publishing, co-founder of Maxim magazine, and author of the book “How to Get Rich.”
1. Total Net Worth: Your total assets minus liabilities.
2. Liquid Wealth: Your readily available cash and easily convertible assets. Note: This is the cash you’ve already paid taxes on.
This dual approach gives a more nuanced understanding of one’s true financial position, as high net worth doesn’t always correlate with high liquidity.
My well-worn copy of the book “How to Get Rich.”
What to include in your calculations
Liquid Assets:
These are assets that can be quickly and easily converted into cash without losing much value.
- Cash in bank accounts
- Stocks and ETFs
- Retirement accounts
- Cryptocurrency
- Gold, silver, and precious metals
- Jewelry
- Paid-off vehicles
Illiquid Assets:
These are assets that are valuable but can’t be quickly converted to cash. Selling them often takes time and may require finding the right buyer like with real estate or private business ownership.
- Real estate
- Raw land
- Farm land
- Fine art
- Privately held business value
- Royalties
- Pensions
- Family trusts
- Structured notes
Liabilities:
Liabilities are the debts and financial obligations you owe. This includes mortgages, student loans, credit card debt, and any other outstanding loans. Subtracting liabilities from your total assets gives a clearer picture of your net worth.
Wealth categories and their meanings
When Felix Dennis originally published his wealth categories, it was 2006. That’s right. We are approaching 20 years since these calculations were first introduced and we’ve all seen the impacts of inflation first hand the last few years.
This calculator allows you to check your wealth based on Felix’s original estimates back in 2006, but using inflation adjusted numbers too. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, I calculated that inflation at an average rate of 3% per year meaning the wealth estimates increased by roughly 70% since the values were first published. This means the original figures are multiplied by 1.702 to give a more accurate picture of what those amounts would be worth in today’s dollars.
Here’s the amount of cash-in-hand you would need in 2006 compared to today based on inflation to be considered “comfortably off”.
Net Worth Categories (Original 2006 Values | Inflation-Adjusted)
The comfortable poor: $2M-$4M | $3.4M-$6.8M
The comfortably off: $4M-$10M | $6.8M-$17M
The comfortably wealthy: $10M-$30M | $17M-$51M
The lesser rich: $30M-$80M | $51M-$136M
The comfortably rich: $80M-$150M | $136M-$255M
The rich: $150M-$200M | $255M-$340M
The seriously rich: $200M-$400M | $340M-$681M
The truly rich: $400M-$800M | $681M-$1.36B
The filthy rich: $800M-$1.998B | $1.36B-$3.4B
The super rich: Over $1.998B | Over $3.4B
Cash/Liquid Assets Categories (Original 2006 Values | Inflation-Adjusted)
The comfortable poor: $100K-$400K | $170K-$681K
The comfortably off: $400K-$1M | $681K-$1.7M
The comfortably wealthy: $1M-$2M | $1.7M-$3.4M
The lesser rich: $2M-$10M | $3.4M-$17M
The comfortably rich: $10M-$30M | $17M-$51M
The rich: $30M-$70M | $51M-$119M
The seriously rich: $70M-$100M | $119M-$170M
The truly rich: $100M-$200M | $170M-$340M
The filthy rich and super rich: Over $200M | Over $340M
About Felix Dennis
Felix Dennis was a one-of-a-kind British entrepreneur, poet, and co-founder of Maxim magazine, who rose from humble beginnings to become a self-made multimillionaire. Felix launched a variety of magazine titles from the 1980s to 2000s, including Computer Shopper, The Week, and MacUser among others.
Known for his eccentric personality and hedonistic lifestyle, Dennis built a publishing empire but later devoted the majority of his time to poetry, philanthropy, and planting millions of trees through his Heart of England Forest project.
If you take the time to read How to Get Rich or listen to the interview with Felix Dennis at the London Business Forum, you’ll quickly realize that he was no ordinary entrepreneur. Dennis didn’t rely on the usual clichés about having a brilliant idea or following a passion.
Instead, he spoke candidly about the realities of building wealth: the sacrifices, the relentless drive, and the uncomfortable truths most successful people avoid discussing. His approach was raw, unfiltered, and refreshingly honest… he was as willing to share his missteps and excesses as he was his victories.
Whether you agree with his philosophies or not, Dennis offers a rare and invaluable look behind the curtain of what it really takes to accumulate significant wealth, and his insights continue to resonate with those who are serious about the journey to financial success.
Related tools:
How Long Will it Take to Make $1 Million at My Job? – This calculator helps you determine how long it will take to reach $1 million in wealth based on your hourly earnings or salary. Hint: Felix Dennis would advise against trying to get wealthy this way.
$1 Million Dollar Earnings / Revenue Calculator for Founders: Create a plan to make your first million in business.
About the Author: Brett Lindenberg
