The Everywhere Millionaire : Who Is Really Rich in America and How They Got There

An illuminating new portrait of the hidden fortunes of Main Street business owners—ordinary Americans who built extraordinary wealth and are quietly rewriting the rules of money and power. You may think the rich are an elite few, but American wealth is far vaster and more widely distributed than many believe. Most picture Wall Street financiers or Silicon Valley titans yet overlook the staggering fortunes of Main Street Millionaires who own unglamorous businesses in every town. Using unprecedented data and vivid storytelling, The Everywhere Millionaire transforms how we think about wealth in America. It reframes debates about inequality and the American dream, showing prosperity is both possible and often closer to home than we imagine. From a self-made hot-dog billionaire to the heirs of a garbage truck distributor, Zidar and Zwick narrate how these fortunes were made and how they pass across generations. Part economic detective story, part tour of hidden wealth, the book traces the road to riches that Main Street Millionaires follow. They might be the dentist with a regional network of practices, the commercial HVAC contractor with trucks around town, or a local restaurateur who keeps opening new locations. A quiet revolution in the business landscape—the rise of “pass-through” firms such as S-corporations and partnerships—supercharged this wealth, channelling vast income directly to business owners rather than traditional corporations. Armed with their fortunes, Main Street Millionaires have amassed enormous power at the federal, state, and local levels. With little scrutiny, they wield that power to protect their businesses and tilt the tax and regulatory system to their benefit. They are growing the economic pie and grabbing bigger slices. The Everywhere Millionaire celebrates the stories of entrepreneurs who seized opportunities, while asking hard questions about how concentrated wealth and power shape society. It is an essential guide to understanding not only rising inequality, but the pathways to prosperity—and influence—everywhere.