To be in the top 1% of US households you need a net worth of about $13,615,400, according to our calculation from the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the most detailed source on American household wealth. That threshold is the 99th percentile. Your age makes a big difference, so compare yourself with your age group as well.
Where the 99th Percentile Sits
| Percentile | Net Worth at or Above |
|---|---|
| 25th | $27,000 |
| 50th (median) | $192,700 |
| 75th | $659,000 |
| 90th (top 10%) | $1,936,900 |
| 95th (top 5%) | $3,795,600 |
| 99th (top 1%) | $13,615,400 |
| 99.9th (top 0.1%) | $62,125,100 |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2022 dollars). Families grouped by the age of the household head; percentiles computed from the survey's weighted records.
The 99th Percentile by Age
| Age of Household Head | 99th Percentile Net Worth |
|---|---|
| Under 35 | $2,375,100 |
| 35–44 | $7,009,500 |
| 45–54 | $12,525,000 |
| 55–64 | $17,627,000 |
| 65–74 | $19,908,000 |
| 75 and older | $17,726,200 |
| All households | $13,615,400 |
Source: our calculation from the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances public data (2022 dollars).
The threshold rises with age because wealth takes decades to build: retirement accounts compound, mortgages get paid down, and incomes rise. Check your own position with the net worth percentile by age calculator.
What the Top 1% Looks Like
Top-1% households hold about 35.1% of all household net worth in the survey. Their balance sheets look nothing like a typical family’s: in the 2022 data, business equity is about 40% of their assets and financial holdings such as stocks and funds about 43%, while their main home is only about 7% and retirement accounts about 6%.
How to Move Up
- Most top-1% households own businesses or significant equity
- High income alone rarely gets there without ownership
- Long holding periods let compounding work on large balances
- Tax and estate planning become central
- Concentrated positions carry large risks as well as rewards
Related
- 90th percentile net worth
- 95th percentile net worth
- Net worth percentile calculator
- Average net worth by age
- World’s richest people
- Millionaire statistics
Part of the net worth guide.
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