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Fat FIRE calculator
Fat FIRE: retire on $100,000+/year of spending with no compromise on lifestyle. Bigger portfolio, longer path, full freedom. See your Fat FIRE number and timeline.
Fat FIRE portfolio targets
- $100k/year: $2.5M at 4% / $2.85M at 3.5%
- $150k/year: $3.75M / $4.28M
- $200k/year: $5.0M / $5.7M
- $300k/year (Chubby/Fat FIRE): $7.5M / $8.6M
- $500k/year (Ultra FIRE): $12.5M / $14.3M
Time to Fat FIRE on dual high incomes
| HH income | Save rate | Annual saved | Years to $3M |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250k | 35% | $60k | ~22 yrs |
| $350k | 40% | $100k | ~16 yrs |
| $500k | 45% | $160k | ~12 yrs |
| $750k | 50% | $280k | ~8 yrs |
Assumes 7% real return, starting from $250k.
Tax-advantaged saving at high incomes
- Max 401(k): $23,500 × 2 = $47k household ($70k with catch-up at 50+)
- Backdoor Roth IRA: $7k × 2 = $14k
- Mega Backdoor Roth (if plan allows): up to $46.5k extra into Roth via after-tax 401(k)
- HSA: $8,550 family limit (tax-trifecta: deduct, grow tax-free, spend tax-free for medical)
- Total tax-advantaged: $100k+/year possible — the rest goes to taxable brokerage
Fat FIRE Calculator FAQ
What's the difference between Fat FIRE and regular FIRE?
Spending threshold. Regular FIRE typically means $40–80k annual retirement spending, requiring $1–2M portfolios. Fat FIRE means $100k+ spending and $2.5M+ portfolios. Same 4% withdrawal math; different lifestyle tier.
Do I need to live somewhere expensive for Fat FIRE?
No — many Fat FIRE folks deliberately live in MCOL areas with $100–150k spending that funds international travel, premium hobbies, and home upgrades. Some go full premium in HCOL coastal cities ($200k+ spending). Lifestyle, not geography, defines Fat FIRE.
What investments fit Fat FIRE portfolios?
Standard three-fund (US total + international + bonds) works fine. At $3M+ many add real estate (10–20% allocation), private alternatives, and tax-loss harvesting via direct indexing. Asset location (bonds in IRA, stocks in taxable) becomes more valuable at high balances.
Should I retire fully or transition to consulting?
Common Fat FIRE path: 'OneMoreYear' syndrome plus part-time consulting at $300–500/hour. Adds $50–150k/year with 10–20 hours/week. Bridges to traditional retirement with less stress and more travel flexibility than full work.
How does Fat FIRE handle estate planning?
Portfolios above ~$4M start running into estate tax complexity. Tools: revocable living trust, charitable remainder trust, 529 superfunding, gift-tax annual exclusion. At $13.6M+ (2026 lifetime exemption per person), serious estate tax planning becomes essential.
Is Fat FIRE realistic on a single income?
Yes, but requires $300k+ income for 15+ years. Tech engineers, surgeons, partners at law firms, and high-earning entrepreneurs hit it solo. On dual income at $200k each, Fat FIRE is far easier — most Fat FIRE households are dual-earner.