millionaire

American  

[mil-yuh-nair] / ˌmɪl jəˈnɛər /

Or millionnaire

noun

• millionaires
  plural

1. a person whose wealth amounts to a million or more in some unit of currency, as dollars.

2. any very rich person.

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millionaire British  

/ ˌmɪljəˈnɛə /

noun

1. a person whose assets are worth at least a million of the standard monetary units of his country

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• millionairedom
  noun
• millionairess
  noun
• nonmillionaire
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• millionaires
  plural

Etymology

Origin of millionaire

1820–30; < French millionnaire, equivalent to million million + -aire -ary

Compare meaning

How does millionaire compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• multimillionaire vs. millionaire

Explanation

A millionaire is someone who has at least a million dollars. If you're a millionaire, you are incredibly wealthy — but not as rich as a billionaire. In U.S., if you have a million dollars — or things that are worth that much, like a million-dollar house — you're a millionaire. In the U.K., a millionaire has a million pounds. This word describes a specific amount of wealth, but it's also a metaphor for "rich," so you might say, "My neighbors are millionaires — they travel to foreign countries all the time!" The first American millionaire was John Jacob Astor, who earned his riches from 18th-century fur trading.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

millionaire millionaires

The icon's remote location - in a field miles from any of Poland's population centres - is largely due to it being commissioned by a millionaire couple who live locally.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Around 44,000 people fled the swanky Cap Ferret peninsula south of Bordeaux, known for its millionaire residences.

From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026

‘I get $1,460 in Social Security’: My millionaire ex-husband, 74, refuses to pay alimony.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026

It’s reminiscent of Steve Martin’s bit: “You can be a millionaire and never pay taxes.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

“From what I can tell, this James Parker guy was rich. Like millionaire rich,” her father said.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

After the SpaceX IPO in June, at least 4,000 current and former employees are expected to become millionaires, with about 400 of them earning $100 million or more.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

According to reports, there are estimated to be 4,400 new millionaires created by the listing.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Per this 2025 Northwestern Mutual study, many American millionaires don’t feel as wealthy as their net worth suggests, and they seek out help.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026

The majority of prospective new members are likely millionaires, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of candidates’ personal financial disclosures.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

The city was home to a large laboring class, a small middle class, and even a few millionaires who regularly packed up their wives and children for the Grand Tour of European capitals.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson