It is a lot better than they figure if you really need don't need $85,000.
Assume you only need $35,000 as a married couple.
Not only is this $50,000 less, but you will pay near zero taxes and get a hefty ACA subsidy. That means the $35,000 is really quite closer to the $85,000 income than you might guess.
At $85,000 you might expect to pay at least $5,000 in federal/state taxes and forego $8,000 in ACA subsidy and premium assistance. Thus you have really $72,000 to live on where the other couple has the full $35,000.
They only need about $1,200,000 in their portfolio and the $85,000 a year person needs near $3,000,000