The third secret of the truly rich is that they marry well.

Billions: The World's Richest People

The third secret of the truly rich is that they marry well. I don't mean they find a rich heir or heiress to wed, though that might not hurt. Rather, most of the truly rich we talked to, especially the self-made ones, told us that having a good spouse had been critical to their success. Starting a company or running a conglomerate takes a lot of sacrifices. The stress can be a killer. Having a good spouse to support you and, most important, believe in you as you struggle to the top is critical.

Many of the rich we talked to had been through long patches of poverty. They rented rather than bought their homes or took out triple mortgages to get cash flow for their start-ups. Some spent years working out of the garages or working double jobs to pursue their passions. Some made it big but then lost it all before bouncing back again. Make sure you find someone who believes in you and is willing to accept the hardship it takes to get to the top.

Yes, being rich is nice, we found. Very nice. We can't deny that we enjoyed living a little of the high life while we were interviewing the truly rich. Those memories of Australia and Hawaii bring out smiles. But something else we found, the main secret that towers above all the rest, is that money isn't everything. As you try to become truly rich, don't forget your family and health.