People who make money based on what they own, rather than what they do. When you retire, you could arguably be there but it's not what most people mean.

What do you mean by "own"? Are self-employed people included? What if the business is worth negative money?

Literally things like stocks and real estate and cryptocurrency. Imagine Realpage or Bending Spoons.

Then that depends on the corporate structure. If you have personal liability, that means you net worth would be directly impacted by the negative. However, if its structured as limited, you could bankrupt the business without impact your personal wealth.

It depends how you separate your personal wealth and the business's

Unsure if you're being deliberately obtuse, but a consultant working for a sole proprietorship is technically making money off a thing they own but they're also still clocking in every day and doing actual work, typically for a third party.

It's a pretty clear separation between those who spend 30+ hrs per week working and those that spend the majority of their waking time "networking" (attending conferences, playing golf, traveling, whatever) with the occasional board meeting or office hours type meeting as the only part of that which looks like a regular job.

I think it's a bit of a continuum based on the degree to which someone is paid for work they do vs how much they are paid for their position and assets. I think if the business can keep running for a good while without them doing much and they aren't likely to lose their job for it, then they're more of an owner than a worker.

If you work and are paid by the hour you're not concerned do not worry

That still sounds like every retired person in the US - I’m really not trying to be facetious here, I just don’t know if this is a use of the word I personally don’t see often, or if it’s really that people are somehow against the common ownership of stock.

To be clear, I do not support the disparity of wealth, I’m literally just trying to make sure I understand people…

It means not you.

Clues specially being

1) you hope to RETIRE

Ie be able to not work

2) you HOPE to retire

Ie it’s not certain

Well I have enough to retire now, but either way I was just curious - the definition doesn’t seem to meet the word being used, so I just wasn’t sure if this was some new thing or an overzealous use of the word.

I do suspect that more people retire and retire for longer now than 1973.

Yes, earlier or more lavish retirements are part of where the productivity is going.

Is your primary income a salary? If yes, Then you are not in the investor class

So many people here are brainwashed that the next big thing will make them a billion.

Would be interesting to see links.

I would define it as the class of people who make their money primarily through capital gains

If you care about what number is on your W2, then he's not talking about you.