European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Want wealth on own terms Ost americans would like to be Rich but Only a third think there is a Chance that they Ever will be. And despite this desire very few say they would marry a Rich person they did no to love or sacrifice time with their family to make a Fourtune. How much Money makes you Rich there is no consensus among those answering a Gallup poll conducted this Spring. In fact even among those with High incomes few were willing to describe themselves As wealthy. Only six of the 1,255 people responding to the poll identified themselves As Rich while 7gallup polls percent said they Are in the upper income group. Most a 60 percent a lumped themselves in a Middle income category. However they were not resistant to put the wealthy Label on others. Those answering said that 21 percent of All americans Are Rich. Predictably the perception of How much of America is Rich varied widely by income a the less Money an individual made the More Rich people he or she thought there Are. Those making less than $20,000 a year thought an average of 28 percent of americans Are Rich while those making Over $ 100,000 a year considered Only 12 percent of americans to be Rich. The Survey found that to some americans particularly those who done to earn much Money making $50,000 a year or More qualifies one As Rich. To others especially those with High incomes a person needs to earn More than $ 1 million a year to be Rich. The most frequent response was that it takes an annual income of $ 100,000 or More to be wealthy. How much Money do you need to have saved or invested to be Rich americans most often mention two significantly different figures $100,000 and $1 million a another indication of How widely disparate perceptions arc of what it takes to be wealthy in America today. Why americans want to be Rich is not As obvious As it May seem. It in t that the Rich Are happier a Only 11 percent think wealthy pc pie Are happier than the non Rich. Americans Are not willing to admit that they envy the Rich a Only 17 percent express that emotion. And despite the emphasis put on possessions by much of american culture americans profess that acquiring material goods is simply hot an important reason to be Well off. Most say they Arentt very interested in the cars clothing servants and other a a goodies that being Rich would enable them to acquire. The two most important reasons for wanting to be Rich Are a not having to worry about affording unexpected expenses such As illnesses or emergencies Quot 81 percent said this would be a very important reason to be Rich and a to be Able to Send your children through College without financial Strain Quot 79 percent said it is very important reason among the polls other findings a the american dream of becoming Rich is alive and Well in Many. When asked Point Blank 59 percent said that if they had their Choice yes they would want to be wealthy. Thirty eight percent say they would not. A men Are More interested in becoming Rich than women. Sixty seven percent of All men say they want to be Rich compared to Only 52 percent of All women. And it is not the poor or the less Well educated who dream of being Rich the most. Rather it is College graduates and those with the highest incomes who have the greatest interest in becoming wealthy. Those with lower Levels of education and the lowest incomes profess the least interest. A despite the general interest in being Rich reality intrudes when americans Survey their own chances of doing so. Only 32 percent think it is at All Likely that they will be wealthy. The rest apparently accept the fact that great wealth is an elusive dream. A there Are certain sacrifices most wont make to become Rich. Only 2 percent said they would be very willing to marry a Rich person they did not love 8 per cent would be very willing to work at a Job they hated and 4 percent would be very willing to work at a Job that took too much time from the family if it would make them wealthy. Los Angeles times Syndicate wealth in America do you think Thoro is too much too Little or about the right amount of emphasis and attention on Tho Rich and trying to become Rich in America today a 6% too Lilito emphasis 6% Don t know would you marry a Rich person you did not Lovo 2% vory willing would you consider spending loss Timo with your family if it mount having Moro to ally not vory willing 80% Donl know 1 0/ 4% vory willing a amps Sharon Kilday Uri babe Ruth Best in his Fiel fans still say babes the Best american baseball fans voted overwhelmingly for babe Ruth As the greatest player of All time a just As they did 41 years ago when the Gallup poll last asked the question. In the poll taken this Spring 32 percent of those asked to name the game s top player picked Ruth. The runners up Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron were each picked by 5 percent. Among those who consider themselves fans Ruth still collected 31 percent of the vote far More than the Trio of Joe Dimaggio Mantle and Aaron who got 7 percent each. Ruth a popularity has actually increased in the past 40 years. In 1949, he was the pick of 30 percent of those questioned still a big Winner Over runner up Tycobb who got 6 percent of. The vote. No Active player was named to the top 10 by All respondents or by those who called themselves fans. Players who received the most votes among All respondents after the lop three were Dimaggio Willie Mays Pete Rose Lou Gehrig Ted Williams Tycobb and Jackie Robinson. Rose made the list despite his troubles with the Taw suggesting the Public is willing to forgive his transgressions and evaluate him on the basis of his playing ability. Those polled in 1949 said the top players after Ruth and Cobb were Lou Gehrig Christy Matthewson Honus Wagner Grover Alexander Rogers Hornsby Carl Hubbel dizzy Dean and Charlie Schringer. Poll results Are based on Telephone interviews with 1,239 adults 18 and older selected at random. The poll has a 3 percent margin of error. Los Angeles times sent Iceie july 15, 1990 sunday c Page