I worked in football (soccer to Americans) as a journalist. That got me into scouting via contacts, and I had some success. Finding a few great players and make you very wealthy. It's just very, very hard to find you a few right players.

Currently, I am retired, a few years south of 40, and I can live out the rest of my days in the U.S. on the money - as well as take care of my fiance and any children we might have.

Here's my rough number for retiring at the age 40 with a spouse and, say, two kids - to be comfortable without worry but not opulent - $1.3 million, conservatively invested with a reserve kept of $400,000 - away from the fluctuations of the markets. I'm not saying exactly what I have, mind you, but I'm telling you what I think retiring on at 40, at today's costs and expected increases factored in. $1.3 million should set up two adults and two children pretty well.

Personal example - I bought my modestly comfortable 2700 square foot house in cash. I have zero debt. Since we live in the country, our expenses are cheap - our electric is about $120 a month, using a mixture of electric and in-floor heating, $60 dollars for internet, $20 for the trash, and $100 for our cellular plan.

We spend $300 a month on all of our bills, and another $300 on food and drink.

It costs us $600 a month to live in total comfort. We go out, hit the town, travel, and buy things that frankly I wouldn't ever thought I'd be able to afford (good scotch - I have a solid collection), and we still spend less than $25,000 a year - yet we live like upper-middle class folks.

Not a bad way to do it - and I got a bit lucky - but I had the intelligence to seize opportunity when it came. Most miss it without even realizing it.