Is $10 Million Enough for You to Retire at 50?

If you have $10 million, retiring at 50 is not only achievable, it opens the door to a wide range of lifestyle possibilities and legacy planning opportunities. With the right strategy, this level of wealth can support a luxurious or comfortable retirement, fund healthcare needs, provide for family and philanthropy, and even grow over time. However, even with $10 million, a multi-decade retirement demands careful planning, particularly around taxes, investment management, healthcare and long-term family goals.

A financial advisor can help ensure your retirement income strategy aligns with your lifestyle and long-term aspirations.

Is $10 Million Enough to Retire at 50?

Using the popular 4% rule, a $10 million portfolio could provide a staggering $400,000 in income in your first year of retirement. That’s more than enough to maintain a high standard of living almost anywhere in the world.

However, the 4% rule assumes a 30-year retirement. A more conservative withdrawal rate, such as 3%, would extend the life of your portfolio, and still yield $300,000 annually.

For high-net-worth individuals, the key question isn’t just whether $10 million is enough (it likely is), but how to structure your income streams, minimize taxes and ensure your wealth lasts for the long term, or even grows.

That’s where a financial advisor can help.

Other Factors Affecting Retirement at 50 With $10 Million

Even at this wealth level, several factors require thoughtful planning when it comes to retiring at 50 with $10 million.

Retirement Portfolio Basics and Taxes

At 50, most early retirees avoid tapping qualified retirement accounts (401(k), traditional IRAs) to sidestep early withdrawal penalties. Instead, taxable brokerage accounts, Roth IRA contributions, cash reserves and even real estate investments often become the first sources of income.

Given your high net worth, taxable investment accounts will likely generate significant capital gains and dividend income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed at 15% or 20%, plus a 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT).

Strategies like tax-loss harvesting, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), donor-advised funds and Roth IRA conversions can be invaluable in managing your tax liability over time.

A diversified, tax-efficient withdrawal strategy, sequencing different account types, can minimize taxes and preserve wealth.

Location and Lifestyle

With $10 million, you have the flexibility to live virtually anywhere. Still, location affects tax rates, real estate costs, healthcare access and overall lifestyle. Some retirees choose low-tax states like Florida, Nevada or Texas, while others prioritize lifestyle and amenities over tax savings.

Your spending habits, whether modest or luxury-oriented, will also shape how much of your portfolio is consumed annually versus how much remains for growth or legacy planning.

Inflation

Inflation is a concern for any retiree, regardless of wealth. Even at 3%, annual expenses can double over 24 years. For those retiring at 50, protecting purchasing power over a potential 40-50 year retirement horizon requires allocating a portion of assets to growth investments like equities and real estate.

Health and Longevity

Without Medicare until 65, early retirees must plan for private healthcare insurance and out-of-pocket expenses. With $10 million, self-insurance is feasible, but high-net-worth retirees often seek premium health coverage, concierge medical services or even long-term care insurance for additional protection.

Longevity planning is also essential. It’s wise to plan for a retirement that could span 40 years or more.

Retiring at 50 With $10 Million – Social Security and Medicare

A couple on the beach, considering if $10 million is enough to retire at 50.

Social Security benefits won’t be available until at least age 62. However, at this level of wealth, Social Security will likely be a small component of your income strategy. Still, delaying benefits until full retirement age (67) or age 70 can maximize potential payouts.

Medicare eligibility begins at 65, so until then, you’ll need to secure private insurance or explore coverage options through the healthcare marketplace. At $10 million, you can opt for top-tier health coverage or self-insure for major medical expenses.

Keep in mind, healthcare coverage can put quite a dent in your retirement portfolio, even with $10 million. Fidelity estimates the aver 65-year-old couple will spend $330,000 on medical expenses in retirement. And retiring 15 years early will only increase that amount.

Managing a $10 Million Portfolio at 50

With $10 million, portfolio management should balance growth, income generation, liquidity and tax efficiency. A sample allocation might include:

50% equities (domestic, international, and alternative equity)
25% bonds and fixed income
15% real estate or private equity
10% cash and short-term instruments

Consider working with a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) or chartered financial analyst (CFA) to fine-tune your asset allocation and rebalance your portfolio periodically. They can also help you develop a strategy to minimize your tax liability.

Annuities

For high-net-worth retirees, annuities can serve as a valuable tool for income stability, especially when incorporated into a broader income floor strategy. Rather than being the primary income source, as they might be for retirees with smaller nest eggs, annuities can act as a risk management instrument, offering protection against longevity risk and potential market downturns.

There are several types of annuities that can complement a $10 million portfolio. Deferred income annuities allow you to lock in future payments, often starting at age 65 or later, which can be especially useful for covering essential expenses in later retirement years. Immediate fixed annuities provide guaranteed income right away, offering predictable cash flow that doesn’t depend on market performance.

For those seeking a balance between growth and security, indexed annuities tie returns to the performance of a market index while providing downside protection to guard against losses.

While annuities typically come with fees and reduced liquidity, they can be a smart component of a diversified retirement strategy.

Estate Planning

At this level of wealth, estate planning becomes a key consideration. Some of the options you might explore include:

Revocable living trusts: Trusts can help your heirs avoid probate and allow you to manage asset distribution smoothly.
Gift strategies: You can utilize annual and lifetime gift tax exclusions to distribute your assets.
Grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) or family limited partnerships (FLPs): These can also be used to transfer assets more efficiently.
Charitable giving vehicles: Donor-advised funds or charitable remainder trusts can be used for philanthropic goals and tax advantages.
Dynasty trusts: Dynasty trusts allow you to preserve wealth across multiple generations while minimizing estate taxes.

An experienced estate attorney and tax advisor are critical team members for preserving and transitioning wealth effectively.

Bottom Line

SmartAsset: Is $10 million enough for you to retire at 50?

Retiring at 50 with $10 million offers a remarkable level of freedom and financial security. With careful portfolio management, tax efficiency and a comprehensive financial plan, you can enjoy a robust lifestyle, provide for family and even grow your wealth over time. Your challenge is not whether you can retire, but how to optimize your income, protect against risks and design a legacy that reflects your values. Working with a financial advisor can help turn your early retirement goals into a sustainable, rewarding reality.

Retirement Savings Tips

A financial advisor can help you take care of your finances when you’re retired. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area. And you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
How much do you need to save to fund your eventual retirement lifestyle? If you’re scratching your head at the question, consider using SmartAsset’s retirement calculator. This tool will tell you approximately how much money you’ll need to retire and how much you need to save each month to get there.