US Net Worth Percentage by Wealth Group
The richest 10% of US households hold about 70% of total household wealth, while the bottom 50% hold roughly 2.5% as of the most recent Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. The top 1% alone owns more than 30% of all US household net worth, a share that has grown steadily since the early 2000s. This concentration reflects gains in equities, real estate, and private business values, with the top groups benefiting most from asset price increases. Data is available at Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
The middle 40% of households holds about 25% of total US net worth, while the bottom 50% holds just over 2%. Median net worth for the bottom half remains below $10,000, compared with hundreds of thousands or millions for the top decile. The share held by the top 10% has risen from roughly 60% in the early 1990s to around 70% in the latest survey. These figures are based on the Federal Reserve's triennial Survey of Consumer Finances, most recently published for 2022.
Top Billionaires and Their Share of US Net Worth
As of the latest Forbes real-time billionaires list, the top five US billionaires are Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, and Warren Buffett. Combined, the Forbes 400 richest Americans hold a net worth exceeding $5 trillion, representing a growing slice of total US household wealth. Musk's stake in Tesla and SpaceX alone accounts for a large portion of his estimated net worth, with both companies valued at hundreds of billions. The latest rankings are published at Forbes Billionaires List.
Tesla and SpaceX remain the largest contributors to Elon Musk's personal net worth, with Tesla's market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion at times and SpaceX valued at over $350 billion in recent private rounds. Jeff Bezos's wealth is closely tied to Amazon's market value, which has remained above $1.5 trillion in recent periods. Larry Ellison's net worth is driven by Oracle shares, while Mark Zuckerberg's wealth reflects Meta Platforms' market capitalization. These individual fortunes represent a measurable share of overall US net worth, with the top 10 US billionaires' combined wealth exceeding the GDP of many nations. Current valuations can be tracked at Forbes Billionaires List.
Corporate Holdings and Net Worth Concentration
Public Company Stakes in US Wealth
Public equity holdings by the wealthiest households have grown as stock markets have risen, with the top 10% owning roughly 89% of all equities held by US households. This concentration means that movements in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq directly affect the top quintile's share of US net worth more than any other group. The latest data on equity ownership is available from the Federal Reserve's Financial Accounts of the United States.
Private Companies and Illiquid Wealth
Private business equity and real estate make up a large share of the top 1%'s net worth, with holdings in companies like SpaceX, Oracle, and Meta contributing to illiquid wealth that is not reflected in daily stock prices. The SEC requires large private companies to file confidential information, and recent amendments to Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation D have expanded access to private market investments for accredited investors. Updates on private company valuations and filings can be found at