1. Real Estate: Owning substantial real estate assets, such as large properties, land, or buildings, was considered a significant indicator of wealth.
2. Industrial Wealth: Ownership or significant shares in large industrial companies, factories, or enterprises.
3. Landowners: Individuals who owned vast tracts of agricultural land often accumulated wealth through agriculture.
4. Aristocracy and Nobility: The upper echelons of society, such as members of noble families or aristocracy, had inherited wealth and often possessed extensive lands and properties.
5. Financiers and Bankers: Individuals engaged in the banking and financial industry, handling large sums of money, were recognized as affluent.
6. Business Entrepreneurs: Successful entrepreneurs who had established profitable businesses also achieved wealth.
It's essential to note that the idea of being rich in monetary terms varied in different parts of the world. For instance, a person considered wealthy in Europe might only be moderately affluent in the United States, and definitions of wealth were influenced by regional economies and lifestyles.