Who wants to be a millionaire?

Not most Americans, it turns out.

While most people say they'd like to be wealthy, a new survey shows they are more interested in meaningful relationships with family and friends, a good education, interesting work, and religious faith.

The findings are from "Money and the American Family," a study released last week by AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons.

Twenty-seven percent of men and 40 percent of women said they did not want to become wealthy. More than half defined wealth as up to $500,000 in total assets, and only 8 percent said $1 million would make them feel wealthy.

Four out of 5 people feared wealth would turn them into greedy people who consider themselves superior.

"There are certain types - the driven young men you read about on Wall Street - who want to make lots of money as a way of keeping score," says Andrew Hacker, a professor of political science at Queens College in New York. "But most of us just want enough to feel comfortable and secure."

Cultural differences were also evident. Asian-Americans, Hispanics, and African-Americans were more likely than whites to provide money to parents or in-laws.

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society