A privatier ([pʀiˈvaˈtjeː]) is someone who does not have to work to make a living, and who lives off their assets of some size, e.g. interest, profits from investments, real estate and current assets.[citation needed]
Sometimes, the title is used by affluent businessmen after they have wholly or largely retired from their former activity. For example, in Thomas Mann's novel Buddenbrooks, the character Alois Permaneder, a former merchant, uses this title after his marriage to Tony Buddenbrook after receiving a substantial dowry from her wealthy family, at which point he retires from business.[1]