Ask 10 people what it takes to be financially set for life, and most will throw out numbers with lots of commas: $5 million, $10 million, maybe more if they're feeling pessimistic about inflation and avocado prices.
But Kevin O'Leary, entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" mainstay, says the real magic number isn't in the millions. It's $500,000.
In a 2023 YouTube short, O'Leary tackled the question head-on: How much do you need to live a comfortable or wealthy life? His answer? That depends on your lifestyle. But for many people, he says, half a million bucks in the bank can do the trick.
"It's all about lifestyle," he says in the clip. "You can live off half a million bucks in the bank and do nothing else to make money."
Sounds too good to be true? It depends on what you do with that money and more importantly, what you don't do with it.
O'Leary explains if you're investing wisely, you could reasonably earn around 5% annually in fixed income with "very little risk." That's $25,000 a year...