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The article discusses who in American qualify as the top one percent of the wealthiest Americans in 2012. Information is provided on the profile of the top wealthy who often work in finance, make half of their annual income from interest, dividends, and capital gains, and often have wealthy parents. It is noted that the wealthiest Americans are more likely to be married and have children than middle class or poor Americans.

The article reports that the middle class in Brazil has grown significantly since 2002. Brazil was previously known for the wide gap between its rich and poor populations, but in 2008 the middle class rose to more than half the nation's population. People in Brazil put a high value on status symbols and spend large percentages of their income on fashion and brand name products seen on television shows.