How Much It Takes To Be Rich In Different States and Countries

19. Hawaii and Alaska Break The Norm

Hawaii and Alaska, two states that are not part of the contiguous United States, rely heavily on tourism to boost their economies. In Hawaii, a state where many people suffer from homelessness and property values are almost prohibitively high, you need to make $310,500 to be in the top one percent of earners and considered rich. However, the average income for people in the top one percent is nearly $800,000. Why? Because those at the top make a lot of money.

Alaska has an oil-based economy, and the few who run the oil fields are not surprisingly some of the country’s wealthiest people. You have to make $400,000 a year to break into the top one percent in this frozen state, and the average income for those in the top one percent is over $900,000. Like Hawaii, Alaska has massive income inequality and exceptionally high levels of poverty and homelessness.