Why America Is A Nation Of Miserable Millionaires Who Don't 'Feel Rich'

Why America Is A Nation Of Miserable Millionaires Who Don't 'Feel Rich'

Vawn Himmelsbach   Tue, December 2, 2025   Moneywise

So, you’ve hit that money milestone you were aiming for. The one where you thought you’d finally feel wealthy. But you don’t — and in fact you’re as stressed and depressed as ever. Why?

There’s no one number you can hit that upgrades you from middle-class to wealthy. Being rich is “a subjective experience,” says Charles Chaffin, co-founder of the Financial Psychology Institute (1).

And according to recent research, some people never get much happier when they reach financial security — no matter how much money they make.

Wealth And Well-Being Depend On Mindset

No matter how much money we have, some of us may never feel wealthy. For instance, only a third of millionaires (32%) consider themselves wealthy, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual (2).

One reason is that people who become millionaires are often “money vigilant,” according to Chaffin. This means they’re constantly keeping track of how much money is moving in and out of their accounts — and they never feel truly secure with the amount they have (1).

Money vigilance is one of four money scripts people fall into, according to a framework created by psychologist Brad Klontz. He describes these scripts as unconscious sets of beliefs about money that shape our financial behavior. They’re typically formed in childhood and can be passed down from generation to generation. While the outcomes from adopting the script of money vigilance can be good — like being a disciplined saver — they can also prevent you from enjoying your wealth (3).

TO READ MORE:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/even-millionaires-dont-feel-wealthy-100702714.html