(MONEY Magazine) – 8 million

NUMBER OF MILLIONAIRE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE U.S.

According to TNS Financial Services, the number of U.S. households with a net worth of $1 million or more rose to 8 million in 2004, the most ever and a record increase of 33% over 2003. The reason wasn't real estate (primary residences weren't counted). It was buy-and-hold investing. Most of the new millionaires had made few changes to their portfolios since 2000. —JONAH FREEDMAN