It was a joke about the poor state of the working class and lower-middle class in the US.Hardly.
From 1900-1990. that 90-year span millionaires had a standing of 1.1% of total population in the US. So being called a millionaire back then had a status symbol standing.
From 1990 to present date the US has seen a rise in that index at 18% (22.7 million) of US total population even after inflation is added to the formula. So, millionaires are more common than you might think.
Now at today's standards millionaire is a bygone status symbol today the ultra-rich are measured at the billionaire standard, which is less than 0.05% (748) of total US population. Another interesting stat is where most billionaires are found.... DC, can you say politicians, then California, then New York, and Texas in that order.