As he was 87, he likely had around 50 productive years where he was making money at a job. If he put 20% away on even a modest income, and invested in something similar to a indexed mutual fund based on DJIA or S&P 500, it makes sense he would have that kind of money today, even after some 20 years of retirement (and I'm just guessing he retired at the traditional age).
Plus, since he didn't have a wife or kids to support, he might have socked away even more than the 20% of income.
Anybody can become a millionaire on a modest income. All you need is the discipline to set aside a portion of your salary each pay period - and time.
Might have bought a ton of Microsoft, Amazon, etc years ago.
“he didn’t have a wife or kids”
There is the secret.
No wife, no 50% divorce.
No kids to pay for college, etc.
“Send lawyers, guns and money, Dad get me out of this.”
—”Anybody can become a millionaire on a modest income. “
The problem is that with biden inflation we all become millionaires, of a lesser order.