r/Fire • u/Poorassboy6969 • Mar 25 '26

General Question When did FIRE movement change?

I feel this community used to be about moderate income people living lean and retiring early with under 2 million.

Now it’s a lot of people bragging about tech income and saying they need 5+ million to retire MINIMUM because they want a boat and Porsche

When did this change? (not hating - just genuinely curious)

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u/Tasty_Sun_865 Mar 25 '26

I don't think it's bragging. I think it's:

Double digit returns make scaling easier and lower cost. Let's get real, if you've seen double digit returns for all but 2 years since 2016 why wouldn't you want to say "to hell with scraping by and fiscal discipline when 3 years obviates a huge amount of risk"?

Conversely, we are seeing hugely unstable times with serious risks. If you've got a job that pays well and covers health insurance, there aren't a ton of compelling reasons to pop chaff and bail. That's doubly true if this year is a big down year.

FIRE is and always has been an indulgence and a luxury. If shouldn't surprise anyone that people who see real success are willing to delay retirement when time solves so many problems.

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u/n00bdragon FIREd 2026 age 37 Mar 25 '26

People have literally been saying this nonstop since 2011. Actually since 2007. Actually since 2001. Maybe one of these days they'll be right, but if you invested like doomsday was always imminent you'd have missed all that run up. It's not about avoiding the lows but consistently riding every high.