What is worth mentioning is that in Europe you don't need a six figure salary to be well-off. In the US you have all sorts of expenses that just don't correlate

What is worth mentioning is that in Europe you don't need a six figure salary to be well-off. In the US you have all sorts of expenses that just don't correlate in most European countries. The main ones being healthcare & education: I had a month of tests resulting in keyhole surgery and this wasn't done on the national health service it was private, the bill was a fraction of what it would have been in the US. The term "Social Security" means different things in different countries. Now he is in Germany I suspect he will be well looked after and if he chooses to retire there, instead of returning to the US, he will be well looked after. Don't be too surprised at him being happy with a five figure salary instead of his old six figures, money isn't everything.