Aug 28, 2025
It’s easy to think that once you crack six figures, you’re in the clear financially. But that assumption doesn’t always hold up. One-third of Americans earning over $200,000 a year say they’re still living paycheck-to-paycheck, according to a 2024 report by PYMNTS Intelligence.
Turns out wealth isn’t just about how much you earn, it’s about how you think and what you do with it.
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Here are the top five ways wealthy people approach life, career and finances differently from the rest of us.
Subtle about their wealth
Contrary to popular belief, most multimillionaires are not cruising around in neon orange Lamborghinis or smoking cigars stashed in their Gucci bags. Instead, many wealthy Americans are trying to hide their wealth rather than flaunt it.
The “stealth wealth” or “quiet luxury” trend was highlighted in the 2024 National Millionaires Survey by Ramsey Solutions, which found that the top three car brands preferred by the wealthy were Toyota, Honda and Ford.
Simply put: wealthy Americans stay wealthy by resisting the urge to flaunt it.
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Delayed gratification
Another major psychological difference between the rich and the poor is their ability to delay gratification.
In 2016, the National Bureau of Economic Research surveyed Americans over the age of 70 to see how much extra they’d need to wait a year for $100. Would they need $10 or $30? Those who required less compensation had greater patience and were better at delaying gratification, which was closely linked with their actual wealth and financial well-being.
In short, the ability to resist instant gratification is a key sign of future financial success.
Spend money to make money
Because they’re better at delaying gratification, wealthier Americans are more likely to invest their money rather than spend it.
A 2024 Gallup poll found that 31% of upper-income Americans believe stocks are the best investment. Only 7% said a savings account was a good investment.
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In contrast, 20% of lower-income Americans chose savings accounts as the best investment, while just 14% preferred stocks.
This difference in strategy highlights a key mindset shift. Many lower-income households avoid risk and prefer safety, while wealthier households are more familiar with the potential rewards of riskier assets.
Read More: Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Leverage debt skillfully
Debt isn’t good or bad — it’s all about how it’s used.
Lower-income households are more likely to rely on expensive forms of debt to cover daily spending. About 18% of households earning between $25,000 and $49,999 used buy-now-pay-later programs in 2023, compared to just 10% for those earning more than $100,000, according to the Federal Reserve.
Wealthier Americans tend to use debt for productive investments, such as real estate or business ventures. These assets have the potential to grow in value, while consumer goods like cars or electronics lose value over time.
Rethinking how you use debt could be a game-changer on your path to building wealth.
Pursue lifelong learning
In a constantly shifting economy, wealthier individuals know the key to preserving and growing wealth is to keep learning new skills and adapting to unexpected changes.
Whether it’s signing up for professional courses, attending workshops and expanding your horizons, could give your career the boost it needs to step up wealth creation.
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Vishesh Raisinghani is a financial journalist covering personal finance, investing and the global economy. He's also the founder of Sharpe Ascension Inc., a content marketing agency focused on investment firms. His work has appeared in Moneywise, Yahoo Finance!, Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine and Piggybank.
