Do the rich deserve to be rich because they work harder?

Sam Zell says the less wealthy should take note if they want to be richer.

The Equity International Founder and Chairman gave an interview to Bloomberg to speak on America's 1%, and said the wealthiest should be imitated because they have worked hard, and worked their way up.

"The quote '1 per cent' are being pummelled because it's politically convenient to do so," he told Bloomberg.

"The problem is that the world and this country should not talk about envy of the 1 per cent it should talk about emulating the 1 per cent.

"The 1 per cent work harder. The 1 per cent are much bigger factors in all forms of our society."

When asked how someone earning minimum wage might emulate the 1%, Zell - who is worth around US$4 billion - said stories are "rampant" of how people made their way up from nothing to become part of the 1%.

"There are lots of people who have the ambition and have the motivation and have succeeded."

His comments come as a response to billionaire venture capitalist Tom Perkins' comments made last month, when he compared today's treatment of the ultra-rich to Nazi Germany persecuting the Jews during World War II.

Perkins since defended his letter, and also spoke at length about his $380,000 watch on Bloomberg TV.