$10 Million is the New $5 Million

If $5 million is the new million, other measures of wealthiness also need adjusting.

Sure enough, this year JP Morgan raised the threshold for obtaining its Private Bank services from $5 million to $10 million. Bessemer Trust and others already have a $10-million minimum.

Most private banking clients at Morgan won't be effected. They have over $10 million. Half have $100 million or more.

Although most of us would happily settle for $10 million, it ranks low on today's wealthiness scale. The average S&P 500 CEO makes more than that every year. Certainly someone who used to have $100 million and lost all but $10 million doesn't feel rich.