How much money does an average person earn in his lifetime?

Answer 1

I am currently an electrical engineer. I started working in 1974. I am now 51 years old. If I retire at age 62 I estimate I will earn 40.8 million dollars in my lifetime.

ahaha yeah ok so you make a million/year? yeah right.

besides, this doesn't help the question in any way, shape, or form. if you really do make that much then you are far from an average person, whom the asker was inquiring about. you didn't even bother to mention any statistics or numbers for any widespread demographic so why even post anything at all-just to show off and inflate your internet ego?

that being said, from the other sites I've read through there's a general consensus somewhere a little over 2 million in a lifetime without calculating the deduction of taxes. If you've gone to college and obtained a degree you'll make significantly more, assuming favorable circumstances. If you haven't you'll likely come out much lower and balance out the numbers.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa072602a.htm --- this site had a great breakdown of numbers and facts, if anyone wanted to sate a little deeper curiosity on the subject of earnings and schooling.

An average person doesn't earn as much as this person is talking about, he shouldn't have even put this. He is just lying and bragging.

I disagree. He is right. I have estimated that by the time I am 65, I would have earned about 70million dollars. I know it sounds great, but one must take off taxes, buying a house and everything else!!

Let's put this into perspective! If you worked 50 years of your life and you started when you were 17, averaged $100,000 per year you would have earned $5,000,000 (5 million), and if you were making $150,000 when you retired and your retirement paid you 75% of your ending salary ($150,000x.75=112,500). If you live until you are 85--18 years after you retire--that would give you an additional $2,025,000, just a little over 7 million earned in a life that is not only long but also enjoyed living well above the average income. In short- you could not make $70 million or even $40 million in your lifetime unless you were making 3 million a year for around 20 years--in which case you would not be discussing it here with the rest of us average people. I think I will stick to around $2.5 million!