It is anything that will increase your wealth without personal labor.

• Businesses. This is a broad asset class. You can buy dividend-stocks on the market, and then the companies will pay you a share of the profit. You can start your own business. You can buy into other private businesses.
• Bonds. When you invest in bonds, you collect interest just like your bank is collecting on a mortgage.
• Books. A good book will generate cash for a long time.

Assets that don't generate cash, but might increase in value.

• Land. A piece of land generates cash when you rent or lease it.
• Collectibles such as art or watches.

Once you've acquired some wealth, you want to protect that from external factors.

You want to keep your assets safe from legal institutions and ensure you don't pay more tax than required. You will have lawyers and accountants to take care of these items.

At some point, you've acquired enough wealth so that you're only moving around your resources. You will generate value and cash by selling one stock and buying another, or selling land and buying a cash-generating asset.

Successful investors put their wealth to work so that it will not only benefit themselves, but will have an impact on the economy, jobs, and lives of other people.