Privatier

Not to be confused with Privateer.

A privatier (German pronunciation: [pʁivaˈtjeː]) also known as independently wealthy is someone who does not have to work to make a living, and who lives off their assets of some size, e.g. interest, profits from investments, real estate and current assets.^{[citation needed]}

Sometimes, the title is used by affluent businessmen after they have wholly or largely retired from their former activity. For example, in Thomas Mann's 1901 novel Buddenbrooks, the character Alois Permaneder, a former merchant, uses this title after his marriage to Tony Buddenbrook after receiving a substantial dowry from her wealthy family, at which point he retires from business.^[1]