Wealth in America is highly concentrated at the top. Here’s what the data shows, how we got here, and what it means for your financial planning.
Wealth Distribution in America
Share of Total Household Wealth (Q2 2026)
| Group | Share of Net Worth | Total Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Top 0.1% | 15.0% | $27.9 trillion |
| Rest of the top 1% | 17.5% | $32.4 trillion |
| Top 1% (combined) | 32.5% | $60.3 trillion |
| Next 9% (90th–99th percentile) | 36.4% | $67.6 trillion |
| Next 40% (50th–90th) | 28.8% | $53.4 trillion |
| Bottom 50% | 2.3% | $4.3 trillion |
| All households | 100% | $185.7 trillion |
Source: Federal Reserve, Distributional Financial Accounts, second quarter of 2026.
Net Worth Thresholds
What it takes to reach each group, from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances:
| Percentile | Net Worth at or Above |
|---|---|
| 25th | $27,900 |
| 50th (median) | $216,100 |
| 75th | $813,000 |
| 90th (top 10%) | $2,538,500 |
| 95th (top 5%) | $4,937,400 |
| 99th (top 1%) | $16,269,700 |
| 99.9th (top 0.1%) | $63,983,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2025 dollars). Families grouped by the age of the household head; percentiles computed from the survey's weighted records.
About 8.1% of households owe more than they own. The two Fed sources measure wealth differently (the survey asks households; the accounts align the survey to national totals), so their shares differ: wealthvieu’s calculation from the Fed’s public survey data puts the top 10% at about 72.1% of wealth in 2025.
How Wealth Inequality Has Changed Over Time
| Year | Top 0.1% Share | Top 1% Share | Top 10% Share | Bottom 50% Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.7% | 22.9% | 60.1% | 3.6% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | 26.7% | 62.6% | 3.2% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | 28.8% | 68.8% | 0.4% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | 30.4% | 68.7% | 2.2% |
| 2026 (Q2) | 15.0% | 32.5% | 68.9% | 2.3% |
Source: Federal Reserve, Distributional Financial Accounts (fourth quarter of each year; 2026 is the second quarter). The series begins in 1989.
The bottom half’s share fell from 3.6% in 1990 to 0.4% by the end of 2010 and has recovered only partly since, to 2.3% in 2026. The top 1% and especially the top 0.1% have gained share since 1990, though not every year (both slipped in the early 2000s and in 2008).
What the Wealthy Own vs. Everyone Else
Asset Composition by Wealth Group (Q2 2026)
| Asset (share of the group’s total assets) | Top 10% | Next 40% | Bottom 50% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks and mutual funds | 43% | 12% | 4% |
| Private businesses | 11% | 4% | 2% |
| Real estate | 16% | 37% | 47% |
| Pensions and retirement accounts | 13% | 26% | 13% |
| Cars and other durable goods | 2% | 6% | 21% |
| Other assets (deposits, bonds, etc.) | 15% | 15% | 14% |
| Debts, as a share of assets | 4% | 14% | 58% |
Source: calculated from the Federal Reserve’s Distributional Financial Accounts, second quarter of 2026.
Key insight: the top 10% hold most of their wealth in stocks and businesses, and own about 88% of all corporate equities and mutual funds. The middle 40% hold mostly homes and retirement accounts. For the bottom half, debts equal more than half of everything they own, and cars and other goods that lose value are a fifth of their assets.
Wealth by Race and Ethnicity
| Group | Median Net Worth | Mean Net Worth | Median vs. White |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian (our calculation) | $677,400 | $2,168,800 | +104% |
| White (non-Hispanic) | $332,100 | $1,682,400 | Baseline |
| Hispanic | $79,900 | $334,800 | -76% |
| Black | $36,400 | $242,500 | -89% |
Source: Federal Reserve, Survey of Consumer Finances 2025 historic tables based on public data, Table 4 (2025 dollars). The Fed’s public-data tables do not show Asian families separately, so the Asian row is a wealthvieu calculation from the Fed’s public SCF data. See wealth by race for the full picture.
Wealth by Generation
| Generation | Born | Total Net Worth | Share of US Household Wealth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation | before 1946 | $19.8 trillion | 10.7% |
| Baby Boomers | 1946-1964 | $97.4 trillion | 52.5% |
| Gen X | 1965-1980 | $47.7 trillion | 25.7% |
| Millennials (and Gen Z) | 1981 or later | $20.8 trillion | 11.2% |
| All households | $185.7 trillion | 100% |
Source: Federal Reserve, Distributional Financial Accounts, 2026 Q2. The Fed’s Millennial group includes everyone born in 1981 or later, so it also covers Gen Z households.
Baby Boomers hold over half of all household wealth; as it passes to younger generations, the “great wealth transfer” will reshape these shares. See generational wealth gap.
Drivers of Wealth Inequality
| Driver | Impact | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Stock market returns | High | The top 10% own about 88% of stocks and mutual funds, so rising markets widen the gap |
| Home price appreciation | Moderate | Helps homeowners, who are mostly in the middle: the next 40% hold about 47% of household real estate and the top 10% about 44% |
| Income inequality | High | Top earners receive a large share of income, enabling greater savings |
| Inheritance | Growing | Cerulli Associates (2022) projects $84.4 trillion in wealth transfers through 2045 — the “Great Wealth Transfer” |
| Tax policy | High | Most long-term capital gains are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% vs. up to 37% on wages |
| Education costs | Moderate | Student loan debt is linked to lower wealth among younger households with some college (Boston Fed brief) |
| Healthcare costs | Moderate | Medical bills can turn into debt; medical debt is the most common collections item on credit records (CFPB, 2022) |
| Access to financial products | Moderate | Lower-income households are more likely to have no bank account (FDIC 2023 survey) |
What Wealth Inequality Means for Your Finances
| Implication | Action |
|---|---|
| Stocks are the largest asset for the top 10% (43% of their assets) | Start investing, even $50/month |
| Housing is middle class’s main wealth vehicle | Homeownership still matters (in the right market) |
| Wealth comes from owning assets, not income alone | Your savings rate and investing matter alongside your salary |
| Starting early matters | Compounding works better with more time |
| For the bottom half, debts equal 58% of assets | Pay down high-interest debt first |
Related: Top 1% Net Worth | Top 1% Income | Average Income | Net Worth Percentile Calculator
Part of our net worth guide.
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