I think your friend is very much apart of the 99%. In my opinion its got a lot more to do with power than money. Most likely your friend cannot influence governments, bussinesses or economies and the same goes with the Doctors, Lawyers ect. that you mentioned.

My friend is like milions of us. The 99% is not a good phrase. Millions of us are just working and living our lives. We do have family friends that are millionaires. My Wife went to school with his Wife. He owns a large pipeline business in the LA area and is the boss. He took over the business from his Father. He works very hard. Goes to work everyday. Has a bunch of folks working for him all over the world. I sure don't hate him, he is just a business success. Learned from his Pop.

I dont think you understood what I was trying to say. I'll put it to you again in question form. Can your friend or friends with their millionaire status, influence, manipulate Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings or Queens? Can they crash an economy causing inflation, recessions or depressions?
I am not trying to be rude or cocky here. I'm just trying to put my statement to you in a different way.
I myself have experienced some success in my life through honest hard work and sacrifice. I personaly dont think there is anything wrong with being successful. I do believe however that everything in the blink of an eye or swipe of a pen can be taken away by some very powerful people when ever they see fit to do so. Just because some of your friends and possibly yourself have a few bucks to throw around doesnt make you/them any different in the eyes of the 1% than the rest of us.
Thats why I believe we all need to see the big picture.

Wealth inequality is much more complex than a blanket money ='s power statement (although despite what you both said this is the bottom line). There are social, cultural infrastructures in place that slant the playing field while putting glass ceilings on almost every successful career path.

College tuition is rising, while low income jobs are on the rise in areas that support a spending habit that creates more waste than produce. Due to the rise of these jobs, College students may not be able to finish or get a job that would pay back the loans they have. Most seem to be getting jobs in areas that are not even in their field. So why the rush to debt if the job (that was there when you started school) doesn't require your skill set... just a degree. Why Not have jobs that train the mass of people who are willing and able to increase productivity?
I ask you @mando61, how many of the workers that work for your friends pipeline company are American? Or did they follow the popular trend of exporting jobs?

Now you mentioned a good point with the son grandfathering a business from his father. I say he lucked out. Many of us don't have family business to take over or have had generations to build wealth in our family. What about them? Some of us have to work twice as hard to get to the same spot as some of our peers, to break through glass ceilings, to create our own jobs, to overcome cultural and social biases.
This is hard to do, not impossible. But to some it is.

I haven't even gone into how medical issues can destroy ones way of life.

I've mentioned before Mando61, about stepping back and seeing the bigger picture. But now I'm finding it hard not to be offended by you. Although I know you don't mean to be offensive, its just ignorance is only an excuse if your eyes are closed. You must be waking up a little if your here. So I'll ask you brother, why are you here? Despite all the questions you've asked, the discussions we've had, and the people who on this site spent time to address you, you circle back and make generalized comments based on what is actually only a FEW of us. We all don't live in San Diego. (Back up your numbers please)

I feel sorry for those that you expressed in your comments of success. If money and status is a measurement of success to you, I feel you are missing the point. Some of us just want to live our lives, and not become part of the amerikan dream brand. To be honest, I would never fit there.

Wealth distribution on the ground level:
1) If jobs were fair, paid fair: the person who created the business would have understood that if he had to hire someone to help grow and maintain the business, they are just as valuable as they are. If not, then why hire them? Fair wages evenly distributed, no job is beneath anyone. And if all are a part of the company, why can't all have a fair voice in the company since they all share the same goal? This model has been proven to work, creating happier and more productive workers.

2)Minority Class Systems have got to go (The work culture). Just to point out a group: it is true that African-Americans only make up 13% of the U.S. population. Within this group, social injustices have been the norm since the founding of this country (if I go into this with more detail, I will write a book). Not only do they have to deal with racial profiling, bigotry, symbols of their culture are considered unclean and abrasive to the status quo. There is a two edge sword here that cuts down freedom of expression extending to the workplace. Why are communities in the worlds melting pot so segregated? Is it the lack and want of understanding one another? Why is it that most of that 13% is in jail and/or living in poverty? Must be some slant to it.

This post is getting long and I'll leave it there. I think the above points are valid and a good basis of discussion without writing a complete thesis.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx76RmNpAVM