We assume that you mean wealthy, as being worth $1M is not that uncommon anymore. There are many ways to build wealth. The most surefire ways are generally not quick, however. Some ideas:

1. Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves" (Ben Franklin). The little purchases (such as a latte from Starbucks or a candy bar from the gas station) make a big difference in your cash flow because of the frequency of such purchases. Avoid impulse buying – with every purchase, ask yourself if you really need it, and also if there is a way to fulfill the need in a more cost effective way. The idea is to instill this level of discipline for all purchases, big and small.

2. The rich do not stay rich by throwing money around carelessly. Popular culture tends to focus on the excesses of the wealthy, but the truth is that most wealthy people are extremely frugal. They constantly are watching the inflows and outflows of money.

3. Get familiar with the tools of the trade. Be able to perform financial calculations so you can be more informed when it comes to making decisions (such as whether a loan is reasonable or whether an investment opportunity is sound).

4. Invest wisely. You would never bet on a sure loser, but many opportunities are just that. For example, do not ever play the lottery – taking into account the various factors, such as the present value of the jackpot, the taxes you will be assessed in the event that you win, the likelihood that you would have to share a jackpot, the probability of winning, etc., it can be shown that the value of a lottery ticket drops to thirty percent of the purchase price immediately upon purchase. You would never buy a house that would go down in value by 70 percent immediately, so why would you do so with a lottery ticket. Again, wealth is a mindset.

5. Create a strategy for building wealth and implement it, changing the strategy to account for changing circumstances as time goes on.

6. Determine why you want to be wealthy. Ask yourself questions like "if I was rich, what would I have that I do not have now?" and keep drilling down until you find out what it is you truly want, which may well be within reach without having to have a large net worth.