[timmybrown]

You're right about that Bucky.
Let me try another angle here on the other part of my question. Let's say my work-a-day world neighbor buddy has the following assets.
260,000 Baht (Toyota car equity)
560,000 Baht (Home equity)
165,000 Baht (Cash)
100,000 Baht (Stocks)
100,000 Baht (Misc.)
-------------
1,185,000 Baht
If I told others (in Bangkok) that my neighbor is a Setti? Might they get the wrong perception?

Toyota car equity? What you mean by that? You've shares in the Toyota company or you own a Toyota car?
Having 165,000 baht cash is not really a lot... so is driving a Toyota. If you call someone who's driving a Toyota a "Setti", he might think you're mocking him. Oh, unless its a Toyota Camry but then again having 1,185,000 baht total asset is really "nothing".

To "look" like a Setti, you need to stay in a at least a 5 million baht house in a "hi-so" estate, own a Europe made car (Import like Merc, BMW, Lexus, etc), wear branded watch, clothings, gold chain, etc... oh, a huge gold plated Jatukhram helps too. You might not have a single baht in your pocket but people will still whisper "hi-so" behind your back.

[timmybrown]

So now I’m wondering at what point would mahasetti start being used??

Thaksin is a good example of "mahasetti".

Also, what is the perceived financial level there where one might be considered as set for life, as in, now I don't have to work anymore?

Don't have to work anymore? You don't really need to be rich to be able to do that right? I mean... some people can live with 10,000 baht a month whereas some have 100,000 baht a month and still not enough.

[Michael-jeckson2]

Thanks Bucky, you summed it up well for me now...

[largonioulurI]

1) setti image, is not a real setti. To me a setti is not so much the BMW car that maybe you drive that could possibly be just leased or the luxury house you live in that may only be rented. Many people have these things and it's all dept, so in other words your just a perceived setti.
2) setti income, is not a real setti. Just because you earn a lot, does not mean you have any real assets, you may be a gambler go to expensive eateries, but have no real assets to show, so in other words your just a perceived setti.
3) A real setti has enough income from assets to live on with out having to work, they may drive a corolla, but it is owned out right, they may live in a modest house, but they own it out right, but they also have enough income from moderately securer assets to live comfortably in Thailand for life
So what is the minimum amount you would need to be a setti.
A) second hand car owned out right 300,000 baht
B) modest House 2,500,000 baht
C) to maintain a car / house as a single person, and live reasonably comfortably, you need a minimum of 60,000 baht per month index to inflation for life. After making allowances for inflation indexing and tax, a moderately secure investment should earn at least 3% per year this means you would need around $25,000,000 baht in income producing assets.
Total minimum amount to be a setti in Thailand, I would say is approximately 28 million baht.

[Michael-jeckson2]

I wasn’t sure if this should go in the language section or not as it also has a socioeconomic twist to it. I was watching a lakorn recently where a girl is hot for a guy she perceives as being rich. She referred to him as a setti (millionaire). That got me thinking this is actually a level of wealth many middle class can and do achieve there (Bangkok). Or am I incorrect? I would think mahasetti (multimillionaire) would be the word she should use, as this guy comes off as above average wealthy. So now I’m wondering at what point would mahasetti start being used? Also, what is the perceived financial level there where one might be considered as set for life, as in, now I don't have to work anymore?

[ireleda]

An equity in a used motor car is actually a liability,, you don't own it and it ain't worth as much as you have invested or any more than you owe on it.

This guy really has no net worth.

[Michael-jeckson2]

You're right about that Bucky.

Let me try another angle here on the other part of my question. Let's say my work-a-day world neighbor buddy has the following assets.

260,000 Baht (Toyota car equity)
560,000 Baht (Home equity)
165,000 Baht (Cash)
100,000 Baht (Stocks)
100,000 Baht (Misc.)
-------------
1,185,000 Baht

If I told others (in Bangkok) that my neighbor is a Setti? Might they get the wrong perception?

[DrJonson]

Well that counts me out!