Someone making 200k per year will pay about 50k in federal income taxes. This can be figured from the IRS website:
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=150856,00.html
Some tax breaks from kids and some state income tax will approximately keep it about the same so let's just say 50k for argument's sake.
So now we are down to 150k.
The median house price (and most docs will buy over the median, but let's just say they don't) is about 250k and monthly payments including principle, interest and insurance could easily be $2000. 2k x 12 = 24k.
Down to 126k.
A couple of decent cars could easily cost $800 per month for payments and insurance. Food, gas, bills (cell phone, internet, tv, gas, elec, water, sewer, garbage), necessities and other expenses for you, your spouse and a couple kids can easily be $2700 per month. $3500 x 12 = 42k
Down to 84k.
Note that all this would buy only a very average lifestyle.
Experts say you should plan to spend about 10% of your income on unexpected expenses related to accidents, house repairs, medical bills, etc.
Down to 64k.
Average student loan amount is around 120k. Payments after deferring through residency would probably be around $750/mo, although this can vary DRASTICALLY. (My payments will be $650 on 140k, but half of my loans are at <3% interest) Anyways . . . 750 x 12 = 9000
Down to 55k
That's enough to buy a Corvette and a trip to Europe! Retirement is so far off anyways and I am sure I will find money to save later . . .
Investing 55k per year could still get you over 5 million easily in 30 years. Think you want some nicer stuff earlier? Buy a house twice as expensive, a couple more cars and the 15k you have left over per year will only be about 1.5 million after 30 years, but that 500k house you just paid off is probably worth 4 million now. Invest evenly in stocks and real estate. Bonds never hurt either . . . sometimes they break records . . . home run records. All my figures are using 7% rates.
Thanks to the OP, this has been a very fun thread to read and your posts are hilarious!
I would say spine surgeons are the only docs regularly making over $1 mil purely as a doctor.