A fisherman and his wife became ‘quiet millionaires’ with simple tricks. Here’s how you can do it, too

A commercial fisherman and a registered nurse do not exactly match the stereotypes of many millionaires, but one couple who fit this description quietly built up a fortune of 6 million dollars. And they did it all while giving away 20% of their income and living modestly.

Their story, shared with MarketWatch, is surprisingly simple: spend less than you earn, invest regularly and avoid inflation (1). They lived modestly, resisted the urge to improve their lifestyle and focused on long-term financial discipline rather than quick success.

Financial motivator JC Rodriguez has created a following of what he calls “silent millionaires” – ordinary people who have reached seven-figure fortunes without impressive careers or viral success.

Throughout the many interviews presented by Mohebi and Fox Business, he found wealth is built through long-term saving and investing, despite the widespread belief that wealth is reserved for high earners or entrepreneurs (2,3).

Data from Empower found that 60% of US millionaires are self-employed (4). Most did not become wealthy or earn extraordinary incomes. Instead, they built their wealth through good means.

Even more surprising, Ramsey Solutions’ National Study of Millionaires found that 93% of millionaires use cost-saving methods like coupons and 94% live below their means.

The study also found that the most common occupations of millionaires include engineers, accountants, teachers and managers (5). In other words, wealth often appears normal.

Read More: 5 Important Investments You Can Make Once You’ve Saved $50,000

Throughout the countless stories of millions of ignorant people, the same behavior keeps coming up.

According to GOBankingRates, the most important driver of wealth isn’t income – it’s the gap between what you earn and what you spend. That gap becomes your investment fuel (6).

That doesn’t mean cutting out everything you enjoy, but rather being intentional about where your money goes. Many millionaires skip the price of luxury cars while spending money on necessities.

“Market timing” beats trying to time it, according to Rodriguez. Silent millionaires build their own savings and invest regularly, often chasing stocks (2).

The average millionaire’s journey takes decades, not years. Many reach that level in their 50s or 60s, after years of steady giving and compounding.

The fisherman and nurse mentioned earlier didn’t follow a complicated plan – and you don’t have to either.

Here are a few practical ways to apply the same principles:

• Enable automatic saving: Treat the savings as a fixed cost. Set up automatic contributions so the investment happens before you have a chance to spend.

• Focus on your savings rate: Instead of chasing high income alone, look at how much money you can always invest. Even a small increase can add up significantly over time.

• Avoid rising living standards: As your income grows, resist improving everything around you. Many millions of people keep the same habits – even the same cars – for years.

• Keep money simple: You don’t need complicated strategies. Low-cost index funds and diversified portfolios are often enough to build long-term wealth.

• Be patient and be sure: Wealth building is slow, but that’s also what makes it reliable.

• Start early and with a small amount: “Silent millionaires” often start investing early. Time is more important than how much you start with – ten years of persistence is what pays off.

• Stay invested through highs and lows: Markets change, but long-term investors don’t panic. Avoid trying to time the market. Staying invested is often more important than making perfect decisions.

• Use workplace benefits to your advantage: Take full advantage of employer benefits, retirement plans and tax-advantaged accounts. These are some of the easiest ways to increase long-term profits.

The most amazing thing about multi-millionaires is not how they invest – it’s how they live.

From a fisherman and a nurse who gave 20% of their income to daily workers quietly building wealth, the example is clear: financial success is not due to intelligence or luck.

It’s about doing simple things, often, for long periods of time – even when no one is watching.

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MarketWatch (1); Merchant (2); Fox Business (3); Strengthen (4); Ramsey Solution (5); GoBankingRates (6)

This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. Offered without warranty of any kind.