It took about 10 years to the day for me to pull off my early retirement goal. Back in my early 30's I had figured it would take 15 years, but better than expected raises, early mortgage payoff, great investment returns (started investing in late 2009), no kids, made it happen in 10 years. We have over 50k in dividend income right now, with our expenses at around 30 - 35k annually. With my wife desiring to work a bit longer, there is going to be a fair bit of "buffer" added by the time she joins me in ER.
To be fully transparent, it took two excellent dual incomes and some disciplined LBYM to pull this off in ten years.
On many forums (lookin' at you MMM) there appears to be a fair bit of naivety on what it actually takes to do it.
Tomorrow is the first Monday in 24 years that I don't need to be ANYWHERE. Tomorrow I can do ANYTHING.