Middle class means when you go shopping for a new car, Ferrari, Lamborgini, and Rolls Royce showrooms are not considered.
Seriously, a self-employed family earning $250K (that’s $125K each) will pay $35K in SS/M, $50K in Fed Income Tax, $20K in State Income Tax, $12K in property tax, $13K for family health insurance, and save $50K for retirement. Leaving them with a whopping $70K for food, clothing, utilities, mortgage, car insurance, homowners insurance, and putting their kids through college.
I don’t think anyone making $250k is rich by any stretch, but they are in the top 1-3% of wage earners in the US...that’s a pretty darn big middle we have :-)