Millionaires believe that achieving financial independence is more important than showing status. The book contains a colorful Texan description of someone who has a big hat but doesn't have cattle. The phrase describes people with high incomes who enjoy luxury homes, cars, clothing, club memberships and vacations (fat hats), but have a low net worth (no livestock). Few dentists generate enough wealth to achieve status and wealth, so they must make a decision.
Fortunately for the dental profession, Belfort dropped out of Baltimore School of Dentistry and never practiced. Yes, dentistry has provided me and my family with more things than I could have imagined as a child, but now I know that the real riches that dentistry has brought me have nothing to do with money. In response to questions about the expansion of the dental staff, the American Dental Association referred to a study that states that the main challenge faced by patients receiving care is not the limited number of dentists, but the underlying cost of receiving dental services. He argues that, to make it easier for more Americans to receive dental care, dental nurses and less trained hygienists should be allowed to provide basic services independently of dentists.