The next time you talk with your grandparents, ask them about status symbols from when they were younger.

It’s an interesting perspective, and one thing you’ll quickly notice is how many of these luxuries produce real, tangible benefits. Instead of leasing a car, people joined a social club to meet doctors and lawyers.

Or they worked hard to become president of the Rotary Club.

Most status symbols were based in utilitarian value. You made useful connections, or things you did buy increased in worth.

With this in mind, today’s article is all about “stealth status symbols” the average person rarely thinks about (credit where credit is due, I also stole this idea from a recent Wall Street Playboys Tweet).

Without further ado, here’s the list.

Investing (Any Kind)

If you invest $35,000 a year, it means you’ve got $50,000 (pre-tax) in nonessential income. That’s more than most watches, cars, and clothes cost. And, unlike those items, your big-ticket purchase goes up in value.

Get enough investments under your belt, and you achieve the ultimate status symbol: Never having to work again.

I have an uncle who retired at 43 and lives entirely off dividends and residual income.

Apparently, I learned this while asking investment questions, he makes well into the six-figure range. All from reinvesting his business profits into long-term assets.

Being in your early 40’s and spending your weekdays boating, working out, or on vacation is a bigger status symbol than any car or name brand watch.

Owning A Golf Course

My grandparents grew up in the era when every middle-class American joined a country club, played golf, and threw cocktail parties.

Amongst that generation, owning a golf course or founding a country club was the pinnacle of success. And, it’s still engrained in our culture to this day. Why? Because of person connections, plus I’m sure these venues turn a nice profit.

I actually talked to a golf course designer and learned that building one costs about a million dollars per hole (depending on where you live). Expensive to set up, but it nets some nice returns.

You get people like physicians, dentists, lawyers, and executives to join. Something which gives you a ton of social connections. Plus, there’s a ton of ways to up-sell your clientele. You can create different membership packages, have a minimum spending requirement at the course’s restaurant, or throw special events which cost extra.

Also, you can rent out the clubhouse for weddings or corporate outings. Something that’s incredibly lucrative.

Dog, Horse, And Animal Breeding

A few years ago, I dated a girl whose Dad bred roosters for cockfighting. Knowing nothing about the sport, I was curious about it.

The biggest takeaway?

Championship level roosters sell for $1,600 to $30,000 each!

Plus, there’s a whole industry of sponsors to help subsidize your costs.

Horses or certain dogs go for even more. Tapit, an elite racehorse, has a stud fee of $300,000. And he breeds 125 mares each year.

That’s a ton of money, for what’s essentially legalized prostitution.

Anyway, those are three status symbols I came up with. If you have extra suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks!