amass a fortune

Meaning

To "amass a fortune" means to accumulate a large amount of money or wealth over a period of time. This phrase is formal and is typically used in biographies, financial news, or serious discussions about wealth building. It implies a gradual, often strategic accumulation of assets rather than winning the lottery.

Examples

• Through decades of smart real estate investments, she managed to amass a fortune.

  Through decades of smart real estate investments, she managed to amass a fortune.

• He started with a small tech startup and eventually amassed a fortune before retiring.

  He started with a small tech startup and eventually amassed a fortune before retiring.

• Many historical figures amassed a fortune by dominating trade routes.

  Many historical figures amassed a fortune by dominating trade routes.

• It takes discipline, patience, and risk-tolerance to amass a fortune in the stock market.

  It takes discipline, patience, and risk-tolerance to amass a fortune in the stock market.

• The company's founder amassed a fortune, which he later donated to various global charities.

  The company's founder amassed a fortune, which he later donated to various global charities.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He amassed a big fortune in the oil industry.

  ✓ He amassed a fortune in the oil industry.

  "Fortune" already implies a large amount of money, so adding "big" is redundant and unnatural.

• ✗ She gathered a fortune by selling her business.

  ✓ She amassed a fortune by selling her business.

  While "gather" is a synonym of "amass," the collocation "amass a fortune" is the standard and natural formal expression.

Related Expressions

Practice

• He managed to ___ by investing in early-stage technology companies.

  💡 To accumulate massive wealth.

  Show answer

  amass a fortune

• You don't need to ___ to live a happy and fulfilling life.

  💡 Build up a huge amount of money.

  Show answer

  amass a fortune