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Forum » If You Want Personal Freedom, You Need At Least $5 Million Liquid
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Thread: If You Want Personal Freedom, You Need At Least $5 Million Liquid

post 10000213600 06-14-2026, 10:47 AM
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If You Want Personal Freedom, You Need At Least $5 Million Liquid

Most people have a number in mind—the amount of money they think would be enough to quit working and live life on their terms. For Kevin O'Leary, that number isn't just a guess. It's precise: $5 million in liquid cash.

"You have to get to a place where you have $5 million in the bank," O'Leary said in a 2023 YouTube video. Not in real estate. Not in stocks. Cold, hard cash.

"It's the minimum, and it's very, very, very hard to get," O'Leary said. But according to him, that's what it takes to stop answering to anyone—to have the kind of financial security where work becomes a choice, not a necessity.

Why $5 Million?

O'Leary's calculation is based on passive income, as he explains in the YouTube video. He assumes that with $5 million generating a 6% to 7% return, you'll pull in $300,000 to $350,000 a year. That's way beyond the median household income of $74,580, meaning it should be enough to cover living expenses without ever touching the principal.

"When you make that, you set it aside and don't risk it," O'Leary explained. "Then after that, you can take risk capital and put it to work."

The idea is simple: If you never dip into your $5 million, it becomes a permanent safety net. You can take financial risks elsewhere—investments, businesses, or passion projects—but you'll always have that guaranteed income rolling in.

https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44180050/kevin-o-leary-says-if-you-want-personal-freedom-you-need-5m-not-in-stocks-or-real-estate-but-liq
post 10000213601 06-14-2026, 10:49 AM
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You should definitely listen to the billionaires who definitely respect us and are definitely not using us as a tool for their standard of living.

lol at participating.
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PS: Don't eat poop, just don't let the idea of it stop you from living life to its fullest.
post 10000213605 06-14-2026, 10:51 AM
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So you need $5 mil in cold hard cash that also generates a 6-7% return


Who are these morons you follow so religiously Gordon? He can't even form a coherent financial argument. Literally straight up contradicts himself.



Edit:

In reality this guy probably isn't too far off though. I'd say it's closer to 3 mil.... not cold hard cash but invested.
"One day I won't be able to lift any more. Not I won't want to lift. I mean physically unable. That day could be decades from now or it could be tomorrow. All I know is that's the day I'll wish I could lift more than ever. The day I'd give anything for one more workout, one more set, or one more cardio session. So go hard and enjoy every workout, every set, every rep. Because one day you will wake up and you will never get it back."
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post 10000213608 06-14-2026, 10:51 AM
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5 million liquid just moves you into a bigger pond with much bigger fish. Big bank always takes little bank, 5 mil liquid is not enough to compete with whales in South Florida.
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post 10000213622 06-14-2026, 11:01 AM
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Ill get a 100k and move to vietnam.
Its more about how you position yourself than the amount to make. Youre crazy for stretching out your wage slavery for years to stay in a high COL country
1096 ng/dl
post 10000213627 06-14-2026, 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted By SiIverBack⏩
5 million liquid just moves you into a bigger pond with much bigger fish. Big bank always takes little bank, 5 mil liquid is not enough to compete with whales in South Florida.
This. Lmao, there are people down here buying couple of cars for 5 million.

You can flex on most of the normies, but 5 million is not impressive anymore.
☆ Member of the Brave 767 crew ☆ Never forget.
-Florida Gators-
post 10000213630 06-14-2026, 11:05 AM
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So my father and mother retired at 53 and 51 years old respectively. When they retired they had about $400k, mostly in real estate. This was back in about 2013. $5mm may be nice, but it's nowhere near the minimum one can live on comfortably.
When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.
post 10000213638 06-14-2026, 11:09 AM
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Not really. You just need steady passive income or part time freelance work that makes good money


Nowadays it's simple to make easy money online with little effort. He's probably talking about a life that existed for him growing up. Without looking up who this guy is, I can guess he's an oldcel
See Shakebrah's sig
post 10000213658 06-14-2026, 11:27 AM
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Doesn't it depend on what you consider personal freedom? If you have a paid off house on a some acreage and generate your own power, water and food while having no bills and 6 figures saved up along with some passive rental income, is that freedom? You have almost no reliance on anything else, can travel whenever you want, have no boss etc. 5 million seems kinda arbitrary without more context behind what freedom is.
post 10000213738 06-14-2026, 11:57 AM
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All you talk about is money you old phaggot
Not in the AM
post 10000213746 06-14-2026, 11:59 AM
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Somehow these goals are always just out of reach. Like they are designed to keep you working.
Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women.
Vybz Kartel crew
post 10000213748 06-14-2026, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted By MrQuint⏩
Somehow these goals are always just out of reach. Like they are designed to keep you working.
inflation.
post 10000213754 06-14-2026, 12:01 PM
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That guy is a retard and just says things to get headlines


Who would put 5 million in a bank account so they could call it cash and not have it in stocks as if that isn't liquid

What a retard
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post 10000213755 06-14-2026, 12:02 PM
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you dont need anywhere close to that unless you live a fancy lifestyle and buy a ton of sh*t

if you have a house paid off, and a cheap car. and you're not keeping up with the joneses, 50k a year is plenty for bills and living expenses
Cobra Kai Crew

srs
post 10000213756 06-14-2026, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted By SiIverBack⏩
5 million liquid just moves you into a bigger pond with much bigger fish. Big bank always takes little bank, 5 mil liquid is not enough to compete with whales in South Florida.
Who cares about competing. I just want a quiet life
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post 10000213758 06-14-2026, 12:03 PM
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How much are you at now?
post 10000213759 06-14-2026, 12:04 PM
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$5M at a 4% Safe Withdrawal Rate gets you $200K/Year in income. i think this math makes sense. most people can live a good life on that.
post 10000213765 06-14-2026, 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted By Papi_Chulo⏩
Who cares about competing. I just want a quiet life
This. I’ve never spoken with any retired person who says they should have worked more even if money is tight, which for most of them it isn’t
Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women.
Vybz Kartel crew
post 10000213768 06-14-2026, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted By notbadnotbrad⏩
How much are you at now?
7,686,036. desperately need an 8 or 9 handle.

“Give a man everything he wants and at that moment everything is not everything.” - Immanuel Kant
post 10000213783 06-14-2026, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted By GordonXXX⏩
7,686,036. desperately need an 8 or 9 handle.

“Give a man everything he wants and at that moment everything is not everything.” - Immanuel Kant
Mirin

And what was your career again? I think you mentioned b2b sales?
post 10000213788 06-14-2026, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted By notbadnotbrad⏩
Mirin

And what was your career again? I think you mentioned b2b sales?
Si. i haven't worked in 10 years.
post 10000213794 06-14-2026, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted By GordonXXX⏩
Si. i haven't worked in 10 years.
What did you focus more on.

Reducing expenses or increasing income.

Were you super frugal over the last 20 years or did you live it up and do fun stuff - dinners, nights out, cars etc
post 10000213806 06-14-2026, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted By Papi_Chulo⏩
Who cares about competing. I just want a quiet life
It’s lonely at the top, you can stay comfortable at the bottom
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post 10000213814 06-14-2026, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted By notbadnotbrad⏩
What did you focus more on.

Reducing expenses or increasing income.

Were you super frugal over the last 20 years or did you live it up and do fun stuff - dinners, nights out, cars etc
i spent a lot of money at bars. went out almost every weekend. $100/night minimum. i had my fun. but i always lived under my means and i always paid myself first.

pay yourself first. that's the key. max out your retirement plan and save/invest 50% of your income in index funds and blow the rest. eat well, dress well, have fun, but always pay yourself first.

of course maximize your income too.

i considered myself like being in the NFL. NFL stands for NOT FOR LONG. careers can be cut short. i didn't want to be a 50 year old salesman fighting and scratching to survive and keep my job - so i saved and invested thinking every day i could get fired. you're working for money and memories and when you leave you want to leave with as much of those two as possible. my dream was complete freedom - not material possessions.
post 10000213818 06-14-2026, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted By GordonXXX⏩
i spent a lot of money at bars. went out almost every weekend. $100/night minimum. i had my fun. but i always lived under my means and i always paid myself first.

pay yourself first. that's the key. max out your retirement plan and save/invest 50% of your income in index funds and blow the rest. eat well, dress well, have fun, but always pay yourself first.

of course maximize your income too.

i considered myself like being in the NFL. NFL stands for NOT FOR LONG. careers can be cut short. i didn't want to be a 50 year old salesman fighting and scratching to survive and keep my job - so i saved and invested thinking every day i could get fired.
Hahaha I know some 50 year old salesmen with a divorce, child support and driving a car with duct tape holding it together

They make 300k but they are getting killed by life

Good advice
post 10000213822 06-14-2026, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted By notbadnotbrad⏩
Hahaha I know some 50 year old salesmen with a divorce, child support and driving a car with duct tape holding it together

They make 300k but they are getting killed by life

Good advice
their lives are being held together by duct tape. i can't live like that. not for me.

"Happiness is man's greatest aim in life. Tranquility and rationality are the cornerstones of happiness.” - Epicurus
post 10000213884 06-14-2026, 01:03 PM
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I've got 10 mil liquid wut do?
post 10000213885 06-14-2026, 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted By SiIverBack⏩
It’s lonely at the top, you can stay comfortable at the bottom
If 5 million is the bottom can't wait until I get there
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post 10000213896 06-14-2026, 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted By SiIverBack⏩
5 million liquid just moves you into a bigger pond with much bigger fish. Big bank always takes little bank, 5 mil liquid is not enough to compete with whales in South Florida.
Who says you have to compete? You can choose to live a life of freedom surfing, riding motorcycles, lifting etc while living somewhere other than South Florida. $5M should be enough to live a comfortable, modest life engaging in hobbies that are physically challenging and rewarding while not being too expensive.

If a man wishes to compete with the big ballers in South Florida, that's up to him and that's perfectly fine too.
post 10000213905 06-14-2026, 01:14 PM
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Totally untrue
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