America has among the highest wealth inequality of any developed nation. 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 | $27,000 |
| 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.
About 7.5% 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 slightly: the survey puts the top 10% at about 73.4% of wealth in 2022.
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 to almost nothing after the 2008 housing crash, when falling home prices wiped out their equity while debts remained, and has recovered only partly since. The top 1% and especially the top 0.1% have gained share steadily for three decades.
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 | $536,000 | $1,826,900 | +88% |
| White (non-Hispanic) | $285,000 | $1,367,200 | Baseline |
| Hispanic | $61,600 | $227,500 | -78% |
| Black | $44,900 | $211,500 | -84% |
Source: Federal Reserve Bulletin, October 2023, Table 2 (2022 Survey of Consumer Finances). 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 middle class but top deciles own most real estate value |
| Income inequality | High | Top 1% receives roughly a fifth of pre-tax income (World Inequality Database), enabling greater savings |
| Inheritance | Growing | $84 trillion “Great Wealth Transfer” over next 20 years |
| Tax policy | High | Long-term capital gains taxed at 0-20% vs. up to 37% on wages |
| Education costs | Moderate | Student debt delays wealth building for non-wealthy |
| Healthcare costs | Moderate | Medical expenses and debt erode middle/lower-class wealth |
| Access to financial products | Moderate | Wealthy get better rates, investment access, and advice |
What Wealth Inequality Means for Your Finances
| Implication | Action |
|---|---|
| Stock ownership is the primary wealth builder | Start investing, even $50/month |
| Housing is middle class’s main wealth vehicle | Homeownership still matters (in the right market) |
| Working income alone won’t build wealth | Your savings rate + investing matters more than your salary |
| Starting early matters enormously | Compounding works better with time |
| Debt is the biggest wealth destroyer | Eliminate high-interest debt aggressively |
Related: Top 1% Net Worth | Top 1% Income | Average Income | Net Worth Percentile Calculator
Part of our net worth guide.
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