How much money do you need?

[adios]

Mid 20's OMG. I think it's way less than $2 million. Here's why. First of all you're probably going to keep playing poker and if you're a winning player (I'd say if you win the big one chances are better than 50-50 that you are) you can gain income from that. Second of all being in your mid 20's you're not ready for a rocking chair so you're going to look for opportunities to make money by investing some and if you're like most that are conservative and thoughtful you will. Someone mentioned a bursting of the "real estate bubble." Say this happens, do you think any opportunities to buy real estate will happen thereafter? When these things happen there's always buying opportunities, ask Warren Buffet. Third of all if you are able to stay out of debt (which tends to be a very conservative approach) and don't have a lot of too extravagent tastes you can come up with a low montly nut even including health insurance. High deductable policies are reasonable and being in your mid 20's even makes it more so.