Do you own an iPhone or an iPad? You are rich! – BGR

If you own an iPhone or iPad, it means you're rich, according to a new study that looked at various types of modern behaviors and their correlation with a household's income. Owning an Android phone in the United States or using Verizon are also signs that you are in the high income bracket.

However, the iPhone is an even stronger indicator. Economists at the University of Chicago have explained in a new paper that "no single brand is as predictive of a high income as owning an Apple iPhone. "

"All the years of our data, no single brand is as predictive of being high-income as owning an Apple iPhone in 2016," the researchers wrote in the newspaper, via Business Insider .

"Knowing if anyone owns an iPad in 2016 allows us to correctly guess if the person is in the top or bottom income quartile 69% of the time," they also said.

Researchers say knowing someone owns an iPhone gives them a 69% chance of correctly inferring that the owner was "high income." Researchers used data from Mediamark Research Intelligence, which provided a sample of 6,394 people.The data include bi-annual questions and information on household income in a face-to-face interview.

Researchers also used a learning algorithm automatic age to see how different groups had their divergent preferences. They determined that "cultural differences" do not widen over time when it comes to common brands and experiences. Their conclusion "goes against the popular narrative of the United States, which is becoming an increasingly divided society," they say.

The iPhone is, of course, the most expensive smartphone that one can buy. There are many ways to make it more affordable, but you always end up paying what Apple bills for the handset, whether you opt for direct purchases or installment plans.

Research indicates that the iPhone is correlated with high income. just a recent trend. In 2004, Land O & # 39; s Lake Butter and Kikkoman Soy Sauce were indicators of high income households. Twelve years ago, Gray Poupon mustard was the most reliable sign of being rich.