• Home
  • News
  • Coins2Day 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Wealth

Here Are the Best Indicators of Whether You’re Rich

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 9, 2018, 1:24 PM ET

If you really want to know if you’re rich, look no further than the technology you’re using each day.

Economists at the University of Chicago recently published a paper (PDF) with the National Bureau of Economic Research that examined the best indicators of wealth over the last few decades. And it found that in 2016, the last year it analyzed, there was a 69.1% chance of accurately guessing that a person was wealthy if he or she owned an iPhone.

Apple’s iPad was a predictor in 66.9% of cases. It was followed by being a Verizon Wireless customer at 61% and owning an Android handset at 59.5%.

Using Kikkoman soy sauce was the fifth-most-likely indicator at 59%.

Aside from products, the economists, whose findings were earlier reported on by Business Insider, found that if traveling in the U.S., owning a passport, and having Bluetooth in your car were also high on the list of high-income indicators. Having a heated seat in your car or using dishwasher detergent were also good wealth indicators.

The findings show a distinct difference in wealth indicators over the years. For instance, in 1992, there was a 62.2% chance that if you were using Grey Poupon dijon mustard, you had some cash. In 2004, that was true if you wee a Land O’ Lakes Regular user. That same year, if you bought a new vehicle, there was a 73.6% chance you were wealthy.

One other tech-related takeaway from the study: Owning a Sylvania TV in 1992 meant there was a 57.4% chance of accurately identifying you as wealthy.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Coins2Day 500
  • Global 500
  • Coins2Day 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Coins2Day Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Coins2Day Brand Studio
  • Coins2Day Analytics
  • Coins2Day Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Coins2Day
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Coins2Day Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Coins2Day Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.