You would need an average return of about 47 percent per year to achieve your goal. It is possible but not easy. What can work includes items 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. With all of them you would have to take a lot of risk. You may just hit a lucky stock or a series of great commodity trades, or find a piece of real estate that increases many fold because of some development nearby that drastically changes its value. Your probability of reaching your goal is relatively low, but that does not mean you shouldn’t try.

Most American millionaires are created by starting a business. Read “The Millionaire Next Door” for more information.