Thanks for the replies everyone!
TL
R. Maybe I needed to be more specific. If you fall into category 3 below, what are some of the indicators that reflect that stage of wealth?
It was probably inevitable that some of the replies would at least allude to wealth vs happiness which I didn't really intend. I think that poor, middle, and upper income/wealth people can all be happy (or not). I only wanted to identify some of those things that wealthy people tend to do that others don't.
I would generally categorize rich/wealthy into 3 groups which also seem to be reflected in your replies:
1) The Bill Gates or Jay Leno with the resources to have the yacht with the submarine and dual helicopter pads. I think we all get the concept there. You literally have NO financial constraints to do anything. As @starry night pointed out, you are also unlimited in the ability to give.
2) The overly frugal millionaire next door. We all know the stories (and actually know a few of these people) who are "rich" or "wealthy" because, if they go out for dinner at all, would go to the Sizzler. Only on their 50th birthday would they go to Outback - if someone else were paying. They would not be caught DEAD in a Chart House or Ruth's Chris. There is NO way the air conditioner would be set to 72 on a hot summer day. Probably would not even be turned on, but at best 80 degrees.
For me, I just don't see the point. To die with the biggest bank account number possible? Contrary to what @Options said, I do equate some degree of wealth with spending. Perhaps I'm not using the right terminology, but many of these frugal people with lots of money might not have "financial" constraints on activities, but rather have mental ones.
Lets face it, no one has ever had a meal at Denny's and thought, "Man, that was awesome. I'm coming back tomorrow and having that again." That is not to knock Denny's. It is what it is. Of course I fall into the "live to eat" vs. "eat to live" category. Would I go to Denny's in a Hurricane evacuation (been through a couple myself)....sure.
3) The kind of person I'm talking about. One who has enough and will judiciously spend a portion of it. The person who will opt for the $3500 business class seat to Europe instead of the $1200 cattle class. This person knows what it means to spend the extra $2300 and actually thinks that it is a lot of money (it is!). He still chooses to spend it because he has enough and the comfort is worth it. This same person doesn't fret over spending an extra $1000 on a sunroof for his new Toyota 4Runner. Heck, not much difference between $37K and $38K anyway.
Again, maybe the wrong terminology, but to me wealth has a certain component of attitude. @WR2 makes a lot of good points, especially just having enough!