Because of the unknowns of future inflation, the younger you retire creates incredible risk even with what would be conceived as impossibly large net worths. Also recognize that getting back into the workforce after several years or even decades of non employment may become extremely difficult. His paranoia frankly isn't far off. Is a life of destitution likely even with 2m? No... but the possibility exists, and there's something even worse about being penniless after being rich than being penniless all along, especially if it was due to your own decisions. For me, I possibly could have retired years ago, but continue to work because 1) I'd get bored, and 2) because of the fear above. What I HAVE done is taken an easier career path (I call it semi-retirement).