Millionaire vs Billionaire – Beyond the Difference in the Number of Zeros

What is the difference between a billionaire and a millionaire? While making the distinction should be a no-brainer in theory, sometimes the terms are used interchangeably. That’s why we decided to take a closer look at the millionaire vs billionaire comparison and identify the key similarities and differences between these two groups of people.

We will also explore why becoming a billionaire is a much more difficult goal to achieve than becoming a millionaire. So stay tuned for more information!

Millionaire vs Billionaire: Definitions

Let’s start with the basics. A millionaire is an individual whose net worth is equal to or greater than one million dollars. This can be calculated by adding up all of the person’s assets and subtracting their debts. 

A billionaire, on the other hand, is a much more exclusive term — it refers to an individual whose net worth is equal to or greater than one billion dollars. This is a much higher threshold than a million and as such, there are far fewer billionaires in the world than millionaires.

In fact, there are only 2,668 billionaires in the world at present based on Forbes’ latest annual ranking, with the US accounting for 735 of those. 

In contrast, there are more than 20 million millionaires in the US alone. This means that there are greater chances of becoming a millionaire than a billionaire. Transitioning from being a millionaire to billionaire is not a given either.

How are billionaires different from millionaires?

So now that we know the meaning of each term, we already have an idea of the fundamental difference between a millionaire and a billionaire. But let’s not limit our knowledge there and consider some less obvious factors that make millionaires different from billionaires.

1. Time Required to Spend All of Their Money

Is there a better way to look at the difference between the just rich and the super-rich than estimating how much time each group needs to spend their money?

$1 Million Dollars

Let’s say you want to spend $1 million as quickly as possible. In order to do this, you’ll need to spend $1 each second for about 12 days. Yes, a million dollars that you may have saved up for years or even decades can all be done in just 12 days if you spend a single dollar per second.

$1 Billion Dollars

If you have $1 billion and want to spend it as quickly as possible, it will take you close to 32 years to spend all of it. Yes, that’s right — you will have over three decades to burn through a billion if you spend $1 per second.

2. Level of Power

You may live like a king for the rest of your life once you’ve amassed enough millions, but being a billionaire could give you the power of a king.

Let’s look at some examples to illustrate how powerful billionaires can be.

• Government sector. Did you know that a few billion dollars let you change a government policy? That’s right! Millionaires can contribute huge amounts of their wealth or fund an organized attempt to influence policymakers. However, only billionaires have the capability to direct the overall course of a government.
• Industrial sector. Having enough billions empowers an individual to influence the direction of an entire sector. To that end, they can buy one or several companies. 

3. Lifestyle 

If your net worth is $1 million, what kind of lifestyle can you have? What if it’s $1 billion instead?

According to experts, a 3% withdrawal rate could reasonably sustain a person’s life. So if you have a $1 million net worth, that means you’ll be able to withdraw $30,000 a year from your account. A million dollars will give you $49,000 in yearly income when Social Security of $19,000 is combined.

Let’s say you require assisted living in your later years. The current average costs for in-home or nursing care range from $94,000 to more than $100,000 per year. This means that you’ll be reducing the lifespan of your principal as you spend your capital faster than replenish it.

However, if you have a net worth of $1 billion, 3% of that will get you $30 million in annual income on your retirement. You could most likely live without filing for Social Security at that rate. 

With that said, you can’t help but wonder how to become a billionaire. But if you were not born to a wealthy family, getting there seems almost impossible.

4. Spending Tendencies

Both groups enjoy the finer things in life, whether it’s a luxurious home or a private jet.

However, the way they spend their money is another key billionaire vs millionaire distinction. For one, millionaires tend to be more frugal with their money. They may have expensive tastes, but they’re also more mindful of their spending.

Billionaires meanwhile are known for their lavish spending. They often have multiple homes and jets, and they aren’t afraid to flaunt their wealth. After all, they have 32 years to spend only a single of their billions if they spend $1 every second.

Who is the richest millionaire or billionaire?

Elon Musk, CEO and co-founder of Tesla, has been the richest person in the world since 2021, having a net worth of $273 billion, according to Investopedia. Aside from the electric vehicle company where he owns a 17% share, Musk is also the CEO and Chief Engineer of SpaceX which develops space launch rockets. He is also set to spend $44 billion of his fortune to acquire the microblogging platform Twitter.   

What is the difference between a million and a billion dollars?

When we compare $1 million vs $1 billion in terms of figures, it’s easy to say one has more zeros than the other. By ratio, it’s 1:1000 or $1 billion is 1000 $1 million. Here’s another way to illustrate the millionaire vs billionaire difference. One person with $1 billion is equivalent to 1000 individuals with $1 million each. 

Conclusion

There are many differences between a millionaire and billionaire, but the most notable ones include the power that comes with the amount of money they have and the kind of lifestyle their riches can provide.