Here’s the net worth you need to be in the top 10% of Americans: Why is it much higher than you think?
One lesser known personal finance rules is that wealth is relative. A net worth of $500,000 is property in some countries and may be barely sufficient in others.
So, tracking your net worth against a percentile that differs from the national average can sometimes give you a clearer picture of your progress towards financial freedom.
With that in mind, here is the latest government data on how much wealth you need to be in the top 10% of all Americans.
The Federal Reserve is undoubtedly the best source of data on the public Net assets. He has unparalleled insight into how Americans earn, spend, save, invest, and borrow.
According to Washington Post An analysis of the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Consumer Financial Survey shows that the median American families have a net worth of just $192,900. If your household has more than that, you’re doing better than half of the country.
If your net worth is above $1,063,700, you are wealthier average American. This number is far higher than the median number, as it is skewed by ultra-rich individuals like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. Still, it’s a useful benchmark. Being a billionaire or billionaire in America will drive you ahead of most.
However, a 2022 survey shows that you need at least $2 million to break into the top 10%. This means that only one in ten American households has net worth above that threshold.
In other words, if you are millions, you can safely consider yourself among the wealthy. Your family may enjoy better housing, access to education than most people.
That said, 2022 was a little while ago, and this data could be outdated. If you’ve fallen below the top 10% since 2025, you might need to go a little over $2 million.
Read more: Americans are “revenge savings” to survive, but only 1% of millions of savings are earned. Here’s how to quickly earn 280% with cash
Every year, America’s wealthiest people tend to become even richer. At the same time, the cost of living continues to rise.
Since 2022, the S&P 500 could jump around 64%, boosting the portfolio of many wealthy families and possibly bringing the top 10% bar.