d；　Mike；　took　over　his　father's　empire　and　is；　in　fact；　doing　a　better　job　than　his　dad　did。　We　see　each　other　once　or　twice　a　year　on　the　golf　course。　He　and　his　wife　are　wealthier　than　you　could　imagine。　Rich　dad's　empire　is　in　great　hands；　and　Mike　is　now　grooming　his　son　to　take　his　place；　as　his　dad　had　groomed　us。

In　1994；　I　retired　at　the　age　of　47；　and　my　wife；　Kim；　was　37。　Retirement　does　not　mean　not　working。　To　my　wife　and　me；　it　means　that　barring　unforeseen　cataclysmic　changes；　we　can　work　or　not　work；　and　our　wealth　grows　automatically；　staying　way　ahead　of　inflation。　I　guess　it　means　freedom。　The　assets　are　large　enough　to　grow　by　themselves。　It's　like　planting　a　tree。　You　water　it　for　years　and　then　one　day　it　doesn't　need　you　anymore。　It's　roots　have　gone　down　deep　enough。　Then；　the　tree　provides　shade　for　your　enjoyment。

Mike　chose　to　run　the　empire　and　I　chose　to　retire。

Whenever　I　speak　to　groups　of　people；　they　often　ask　what　I　would　remend　or　what　could　they　do？　〃How　do　they　get　started？〃　〃Is　there　a　good　book　I　would　remend？〃　〃What　should　they　do　to　prepare　their　children？〃　〃What　is　the　secret　to　success？〃　〃How　do　I　make　millions？〃　I　am　always　reminded　of　this　article　I　was　once　given。　It　goes　as　follows。

THE　RICHEST　BUSINESSMEN

In　1923　a　group　of　our　greatest　leaders　and　richest　businessmen　held　a　meeting　at　the　Edgewater　Beach　hotel　in　Chicago。　Among　them　were　Charles　Schwab；　head　of　the　largest　independent　steel　pany；　Samuel　Instill；　president　of　the　world's　largest　utility；　Howard　Hopson；　head　of　the　largest　gas　pany；　Ivar　Kreuger　president　of　the　International　Match　Co。；　one　of　the　world's　largest　panies　at　that　time；　Leon　Frazier；　president　of　the　Bank　of　International　Settlements；　Richard　Whitney；　presiden