It checked the figures not only on how well states were run, but also on how many successful (and not so successful) people lived in each location.

Then they ranked all 51 (including the District of of Columbia) based on average incomes of the 1% and the 99%; their poverty rates; how many people fell into upper, middle and lower classes in each state; how many millionaires and billionaires they had; and the ratio of millionaires to total households.

Read on for a look at the 10 least successful states:

A third of Arizona's population falls into the lower-class demographic. (Photo: iStock)

10. Arizona

Average income of top 1%: $784,469.

Average income of bottom 99%: $38,354.

Number of millionaire households: 108,682.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 4.43%.

Number of billionaires: 9.

Population in upper class: 17%.

Population in middle class: 51%.

Population in lower class: 32%.

Overall poverty rate: 18.2.

What is it with the western states? Arizona's income inequality between its top and bottom earners is greater here than anywhere else but New Mexico, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Maybe that's ironically appropriate for the Grand Canyon State.

And despite having more than 100,000 millionaire households, a third of the state's population is in the lower class.

The average income of the 99% in Tennessee is lower than in the rest of the United States. (Photo: iStock)

9. Tennessee

Average income of top 1%: $820,373.

Average income of bottom 99%: $40,156.

Number of millionaire households: 101,465.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 3.99%.

Number of billionaires: 10.

Population in upper class: 17%.

Population in middle class: 51%.

Population in lower class: 32%.

Overall poverty rate:18.3.

Not only does Tennessee have several self-made billionaires, it also has more millionaire households than half the states.

However, those who haven't made it to the top of the pile are down near the bottom. The average income of the 99% here is lower than in the majority of the states, nearly a third of Tennessee's population is in the lower class, and the state's poverty rate is relatively high. So much for success.

Louisiana has one billionaire. (Photo: iStock)

8. Louisiana

Average income of top 1%: $859,619.

Average income of bottom 99%: $41,600.

Number of millionaire households: 79,681.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 4.49%.

Number of billionaires: 1.

Population in upper class: 19%.

Population in middle class: 49%.

Population in lower class: 32%.

Overall poverty rate: 19.8.

One billionaire: Count him, one. GOBankingRates cites Forbes magazine as saying that Tom Benson worked his way up “from bookkeeper at a car dealership to the owner of several dealerships, banks, and the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans football and basketball teams.”

But the rest of the state's population? Not so successful. While there's a “fair share” of millionaire households, the state's lower class is larger, proportionately, than most other states, and the average income of the 99% is relatively low, too.

South Carolina has one billionaire and more than 75,000 millionaires. (Photo: iStock)

7. South Carolina

Average income of top 1%: $668,739.

Average income of bottom 99%: $36,950.

Number of millionaire households: 76,831.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 4.15%.

Number of billionaires: 1.

Population in upper class: 17%.

Population in middle class: 51%.

Population in lower class: 31%.

Overall poverty rate: 18.

Forbes magazine says that the Palmetto State has one billionaire and a “decent” number of millionaire households.

But GOBankingRates found that it also has the sixth lowest average income for the 99% — that somewhat damages its credibility as a “successful” state.

Alabama has more millionaires than any other state, but no billionaires. (Photo: iStock)

6. Alabama

Average income of top 1%: $665,097.

Average income of bottom 99%: $38,854.

Number of millionaire households: 80,138.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 4.20%.

Number of billionaires: 0.

Population in upper class: 18%.

Population in middle class: 50%.

Population in lower class: 32%.

Overall poverty rate: 19.3.

No billionaires here — and it's one of just 7 states to claim that dubious distinction.

And while it does have more millionaire households than several other states, that's kind of canceled out by the large proportion of its population in the lower class.

The average income of Kentucky's 99% is among the lowest in the United States (Photo: iStock)

5. Kentucky

Average income of top 1%: $619,585.

Average income of bottom 99%: $37,371.

Number of millionaire households: 67,068.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 3.84%.

Number of billionaires: 1.

Population in upper class: 16%.

Population in middle class: 52%.

Population in lower class: 32%.

Overall poverty rate: 19.1.

Another state with a very small share of its population in the upper class — although it has one billionaire, according to Forbes magazine: B. Wayne Hughes, founder of self-storage chain Public Storage.

And the state's 99%? Their average income is among the lowest in the nation.

The 99% in Arkansas fare no better than many of the other least successful states. (Photo: iStock)

4. Arkansas

Average income of top 1%: $750,101.

Average income of bottom 99%: $36,421.

Number of millionaire households: 43,588.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 3.73%.

Number of billionaires: 5.

Population in upper class: 15%.

Population in middle class: 52%.

Population in lower class: 33%.

Overall poverty rate: 18.9.

Don't get your hopes up on being successful just because the Waltons, the family that owns Wal-Mart Inc., come from here. In fact, the average income of the 99% is one of the lowest in the country.

Its substantial lower class population is also a handicap to the state going any higher in the “successful rankings” than fourth from the bottom.

West Virginia's one-percenters makes the least compared to one-percenters across the United States. (Photo: iStock)

3. West Virginia

Average income of top 1%: $488,634.

Average income of bottom 99%: $34,407.

Number of millionaire households: 29,367.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 3.82%.

Number of billionaires: 1.

Population in upper class: 14%.

Population in middle class: 53%.

Population in lower class: 33%.

Overall poverty rate: 18.3.

Even if you're a one-percenter in West Virginia, you're not doing all that well compared to the one-percenters elsewhere — it's the only state where that group's average income is under $500,000.

And the share of its population that's in the upper class is smaller than every other state but Mississippi and Idaho.

The poverty rate in New Mexico is the second highest in the United States. (Photo: iStock)

2. New Mexico

Average income of top 1%: $593,739.

Average income of bottom 99%: $37,995.

Number of millionaire households: 37,957.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 4.65%.

Number of billionaires: 0.

Population in upper class: 15%.

Population in middle class: 50%.

Population in lower class: 35%.

Overall poverty rate: 21.3.

You've heard, of course, about the gap between the top income levels and the bottom? Well, in New Mexico that gap is the greatest, according to a 2012 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report.

The poverty rate in New Mexico is also the second highest in the country, and getting out of debt is the largest cause of financial stress in the so-called Land of Enchantment. Sounds as if almost the whole state needs a fairy godmother.

The 99% in Mississippi have the lowest average income in America. (Photo: iStock)

1. Mississippi

Average income of top 1%: $565,813.

Average income of bottom 99%: $33,383.

Number of millionaire households: 40,955.

Ratio of millionaires to total households: 3.63%.

Number of billionaires: 0.

Population in upper class: 14%.

Population in middle class: 49%.

Population in lower class: 36%.

Overall poverty rate: 21.5.

Although Mississippi has more millionaire households than 16 other states, that's not all that makes a state successful. Mississippi, sadly, has the smallest ratio of millionaires to the rest of its population — and the state's top 1% have lower average incomes than those of the top 1 percent in most of those other 16 states.

It also has the largest percentage of its population in the lower class than any other state. If that's not bad enough, its 99% have the lowest average income in the country.