Money today is just electrons moving from computer to computer, 1s and 0s, bits and bytes.

Sure, Uncle Sugar still has all that gold in Ft. Knox (yes, it's really in there) but it's not nearly enough to put the US back on the gold standard (as Ron Paul would do).

Wealth is, ultimately, based upon the productivity of people and what constitutes wealth varies from culture to culture and even person to person. I feel wealthy because I'm not in want; you might only feel wealthy if you had six yachts and the trophy boys or girls to go with them.