Most people think making a million dollars requires winning the lottery or being born rich.
However, getting rich quickly is the fastest way for most people to lose all of their money.
That’s why around 70% of lottery winners go broke.
And the other thing people don’t realize: Roughly 79% of millionaires are self-made.
The bottom line: Becoming a millionaire isn’t about luck or asking "how do I get rich quick?"
It's about asking "how do I build a system that generates wealth over time?"
That’s how people become millionaires - but what exactly does building a system that generates wealth actually mean?
Let’s break down the 5 money moves that could make you a millionaire, how you can accomplish each step, and what you need to know about a millionaire mindset.
Most millionaires will tell you - getting the first million is the hardest part.
If you want to create wealth that stays, you have to stay ahead of Wall Street.
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The Three Types Of People In Our Economy
Before we get into the moves, understand this fundamental truth about money:
If you’re reading this in the U.S., we live in a capitalist economy. Love it or hate it, that is the system right now.
In order to earn your first million, you have to understand the rules of money.
In short - money cycle from consumers, to businesses, and ultimately to investors.
That means there are three types of people in our economy:
Workers - Trade time for money. Whether you make $30,000 or $300,000, if your income stops when you stop working, you're a worker.
Thinkers - High-level employees like CEOs. They make more money, but they're still working for someone else.
Owners - They own the assets. Warren Buffett's company made over $700 million in dividends from Coca-Cola in 2021. He didn't work for it - his assets did.
Why is understanding the rules of money important? Because our system is designed to benefit owners.
Workers pay 15-30% in taxes - thinkers pay 39%. But owners like Warren Buffett pays typically only 20% in taxes
So how do you become an owner?
Move #1: Build A Financial System That Forces You To Invest First
Average person: Make money → Spend money → Wonder where it went.
Wealthy person: Make money → Invest money → Spend what's left.
The 75-15-10 Plan
- 75% - Maximum you spend (rent, food, car, everything).
- 15% - Minimum you invest.
- 10% - Minimum you save.
Make $5,000/month? Spend up to $3,750, invest at least $750, save at least $500.
This scales with your income. The percentages stay the same whether you make $30,000 or $300,000.
Want To Build Wealth Faster? Try 50-30-20
If you're young or have fewer responsibilities:
- 50% - Maximum you spend.
- 30% - Minimum you invest.
- 20% - Minimum you save.
You don’t have to live like this forever - but a little sacrifice today can build wealth in the future.
This is "the decade of sacrifice" that creates dramatic wealth.
Make It Automatic With Three Accounts
Once you have a system, put it on autopilot by opening three different accounts for your money.
That way you don’t accidently spend your saving money, or invest your spending money.
Here’s what each account is for:
- Spending account - Your checking for bills and lifestyle.
- Investment account - Money that goes straight to investments.
- Savings account - Your emergency fund (3-12 months expenses).
Set up automatic transfers. When your paycheck hits, money moves to investments and savings before you can spend it.
Key move: Once you hit your savings goal, stop saving more. Take that 10% and move it to investments. Now you're investing 25% of every dollar.
Move #2: Create Scalable Income (Stop Trading Time For Money)
You can't reach a million by just working a job. Even at $150,000/year, it takes 7 years to save $1 million—and you still have to eat, pay rent, and hope no disasters strike.
Pro tip - after you’ve created a system, you’ll want to save at least $2,000 in case of an emergency.
If you haven’t done that, stop here, and go learn how to save some real cash fast.
Once you have at least $2,000 saved up, you need income that doesn't depend on your time.
Here’s why:
Every Business Needs Two Things
- Products - Something to sell.
- Customers - Someone to buy it.
The key? Find something scalable - something that can grow without you being there 24/7.
This is called multiplying your income and it’s how you can finally begin getting closer to your first million dollars.
There’s lots of ways to earn more money - some examples include:
- Online courses - Create once, sell forever.
- Digital products - E-books, templates, tools.
- Service businesses - Hire people to do the work.
- Rental properties - Tenants pay you monthly.
- Dividend stocks - Companies pay you quarterly.
The idea isn’t to just have more money here. It’s to create a money making machine that allows you to get more money to invest.
Remember the 75-15-10 plan and how it scales? Earning more = more to invest = building wealth faster.
Move #3: Stack Cash-Flowing Assets
If you can earn more to invest more, that will get you closer to your first million. But you can speed up the process even more by investing into assets that pay you.
Here’s some investing 101 - investments pay you two ways:
- Appreciation - Value goes up (sell for profit)
- Cash flow - Regular payments (dividends, rent)
Most millionaires prefer cash flow because it pays you without selling anything.
Dividend Stocks: Getting Paid To Hold
Some companies pay shareholders a portion of profits every quarter.
Example: Exxon Mobil pays $3.96 per share annually (3.87% yield). Own 100 shares? Get $400/year deposited automatically.
The power of $100/month:
Start investing $100/month at age 25 in dividend stocks:
- Year 10: Quarterly dividends around $280
- Year 20: Quarterly dividends around $1,000
- Year 30: Quarterly dividends around $3,155
That's $12,620/year in passive income from just $100/month.
Real Estate: The Triple Advantage
1. Hard Asset - Own something physical (bricks, windows, doors) vs. paper assets like stocks.
2. Cash Flow - Rent covers expenses and puts money in your pocket monthly.
3. Tax Breaks - Real estate has massive tax advantages:
- Depreciation deductions (even if property value rises)
- Write off business expenses (trucks, meals with brokers, travel to properties)
It’s important to note though - investing in real estate comes with its own challenges, as you do need to actually manage the property you own.
Also, not every stock pays a dividend and a company is not required to continue paying dividends.
That means they can stop at any time and some have in the past.
Ultimately, there are a lot of different ways to earn cashflow as an investor (REITs, dividends stocks, real estate) so you’ll need to assess the pros and cons of each before choosing.
Move #4: Invest In High-Value Skills
You can't earn more just by working harder. You need skills that command higher income.
Some of the most common skills that can put more dollars into your pocket:
- Sales.
- Marketing.
- Product creation.
- Brand building.
These aren't just job skills - they're business-building skills with no salary cap.
Again, there are a lot of different skills that can earn you more money. Every industry has something that is highly in demand - so learn what it is and become a master at it.
In our economy, the thinkers and specialists earn the most money, not the generalists. That means it’s usually best to become the best in the world at something super high in demand.
Think pro athletes - they demand millions of dollars a year because they are the best at what they do in a sport that is in high demand.
So, become the Tom Brady of your industry, and you’ll command more dollars that can get you to $1 million faster.
The Mindset Shift
In order to do this effectively, you have to change the way you think about money.
Most of us are taught that money is bad or that you can never be wealthy.
But that’s just not true - there is an abundance of money in the world and you only need a small amount of it.
So, change how you think from:
❌ "I can't afford it" → ✅ "How can I afford it?" ❌ "I hate that they're rich" → ✅ "How did they become rich?" ❌ "I'm not making enough" → ✅ "How can I make more?"
This primes your brain to win.
Move #5: Expect Failures And Keep Going
Every successful person has failed multiple times. Chances are, you’ll be no different on your path to a million dollars.
But the difference between success and failure is how you try again.
Each failure can teach you what didn't work. That could mean that you’re one mistake away from success.
This is actually one of the most challenging parts. Anyone can get lucky a few times and make extra money for a few months or years.
But real champions know how to handle adversity - being mentally and emotionally strong enough to handle any situation that comes at you.
In the end, you can’t control your job, side hustle, or if the company you invest in goes under.
But you can control how you plan and manage those situations - doing this exceptionally well can take those with talent and skills to the next level of wealth.
The Reality Check: How Long Does This Take?
Here’s the reality: Building wealth takes time for most people. If you don’t do it in a year, that’s okay.
In fact, it’s normal. But how fast you do it really depends on how much you’re willing to put in today.
Follow 75-15-10 as much as possible - multiply your income quickly, get new in demand skills, and invest in things that pay you.
Then, speed it up by stacking strategies:
- Financial system (75-15-10).
- Scalable income.
- Cash-flowing assets.
- High-income skills.
- Push through failures.
This combination can cut the timeline down and will get you on the path towards wealth and your first million dollars.
Your First Million Dollars: Final Thoughts
Making your first million isn't one big break. It's understanding how the economic system works and positioning yourself to benefit.
The five moves:.
- Financial system - 75-15-10 forces you to invest first
- Scalable income - Build businesses that don't require your time.
- Cash-flowing assets - Dividend stocks and real estate that pay regularly.
- High-value skills - Sales, marketing, product creation, brand building.
- Embrace failure - It's part of the journey.
Wealthy people climb the corporate ladder while learning how to also own the corporate ladder.
That’s the key to making a million dollars and building wealth that actually lasts.
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