What would you do if you had $1 million? The possibilities are endless, but how do actual millionaires spend their money, and how do they get it? These millionaire statistics offer answers.
Jump to:
- Key Findings
- How Many Millionaires Are There in the US?
- Which State Has the Most Millionaires?
- How Millionaires Make, Grow, and Spend Their Money
- Does the US Have the Most Millionaires?
Key Findings:
- 21,951,000 people in the U.S. have a net worth of$1 million or more.
- Among all states,New Jerseyhas the most millionaire households.
- Only3%of American millionaires received an inheritance of $1 million or above.
- Real estate makes up about40%of a typical millionaire’s net worth.
- China, Japan, Germany, the U.K., France, and Australiaadded together have fewer millionaires than the U.S.
- The typical American millionaire owns justone property (43%).
How Many Millionaires Are There in the US?
Data from the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report shows that in 2020 there were just under 30 million millionaires in the US.
The number of millionaires increased by over 3 million just from 2010 to 2020.[1]✓✓ Trusted source
Credit Suisse Research Institute
Credit Suisse Research Institute studies long-term economic trends with a global impact.
Is a Millionaire in the Top 1% of Americans by net worth?
Having a net worth of $1 million will not put you in the top 1%. You’ll need a minimum net worth of around $11.1 million to get into the 1% of Americans by wealth.[2]
Which State Has the Most Millionaires?
New Jersey has the highest rate of millionaires, with 9.76% of households showing a net worth of $1 million or above. That means that 246,058 New Jersey households are millionaires.[4]
How Millionaires Make, Grow, and Spend Their Money
Let’s take a look at how people got to become millionaires and how they choose to invest and spend their money.
How Many Millionaires Inherited Their Wealth?
21%of millionaires received some inheritance, but only3%received an inheritance of $1 million or above. 79%of millionaires did not receive any inheritance from their family or relatives.8out of10millionaires come from low-income families.[3]
Percent of millionaires that inherited their wealth
Did Millionaires Get Rich Thanks to Their Income?
The majority of millionaires didn’t become wealthy because of their six-figure wages. In fact,93%of millionaires polled by Ramsey Solutions claimed they did not become rich due to their salary but rather by working hard and avoiding debt. Only31%of respondents surveyed had a$100,000annual income at some time in their careers.One-thirdnever made $100,000 a year at any point in their career.[3]✓✓ Trusted source
Ramsey Solutions
Ramsey Solutions, founded by personal finance personality and radio show host Dave Ramsey, is a media company offering financial education and guidance.
Percent of millionaires with six-figure income at some time in their careers
What Percentage of Millionaires Have Liquidity?
Only27%of millionaires have liquidity. This makes perfect sense as millionaires invest in several categories of monetary and physical assets, such as stocks, mutual funds, retirement accounts, and real estate, to protect and grow their wealth.[5]
Percent of millionaires that have liquidity
What Do Millionaires Invest In?
40%of an average millionaire’s assets consist of real estate.That’s partly because real estate can be a great investment and partly because US property values are very high. Many millionaires have a significant percentage of their wealth tied up in their primary residence. In California, for example, the average home value is almost $800,000, which puts an average homeowner 80% of the way toward being a millionaire!
Corporate equities and mutual fund shares(40%) are another preferred investment.[6]
How Many Properties Does the Average American Millionaire Own?
Although many people imagine millionaires owning various properties, the average American millionaire prefers to own onlyone property(43%), with only8.5%of the millionaire in the U.S owningfour properties or more.[7]
Which Country Has the Most Millionaires?
Research done by the Credit Suisse Research Institute states that the country with the highest number of millionaires is the U.S., with nearly 30 million millionaires and17 million people with wealth up to $5 million! To put numbers in perspective, China, Japan, Germany, the U.K., France, and Australia added together have a total of 17 million millionaires![1]✓✓ Trusted source
Credit Suisse Research Institute
Credit Suisse Research Institute studies long-term economic trends with a global impact.
Is a Millionaire Rich?
For most of us – especially those of us who aren’t millionaires – the word “millionaire” conjures up images of spectacular wealth. But is a millionaire really rich?
Most Americans don’t think so. The 2022 Charles Schwab Modern Wealth Survey found that Americans see a net worth of $2.2 million as the minimum to be considered “wealthy”, and that a net worth of $774,000 is needed to be “financially comfortable”.
Those figures get even higher in major urban areas.
Being a millionaire doesn’t necessarily mean you have a great deal of disposable wealth, especially if you live in a high-cost environment. If your net worth is primarily in your primary residence you could even be financially stressed despite being a millionaire, especially if your property taxes are high and your income is limited!
“Millionaire” is a convenient term to describe wealthy people, but wealth isn’t just about net worth, especially when inflation is high. Income, debt, and cost of living all make a difference in defining whether a person can be considered “rich”.
As a seasoned financial expert with a deep understanding of wealth management and economic trends, I'll delve into the key concepts presented in the article on how millionaires in the United States make, grow, and spend their money.
Key Findings:
-
Number of U.S. Millionaires:
- According to data from the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report in 2020, there were just under 30 million millionaires in the U.S.
- The number of millionaires increased by over 3 million from 2010 to 2020.
-
Millionaires and the Top 1%:
- Merely having a net worth of $1 million does not place you in the top 1% of Americans by wealth. The threshold for the top 1% is around $11.1 million.
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State with the Most Millionaires:
- New Jersey has the highest rate of millionaires, with 9.76% of households having a net worth of $1 million or more.
How Millionaires Make, Grow, and Spend Their Money:
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Inheritance and Millionaires:
- Only 3% of American millionaires received an inheritance of $1 million or more.
- 79% of millionaires did not receive any inheritance from their family or relatives.
- Notably, 8 out of 10 millionaires come from low-income families.
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Income and Wealth Accumulation:
- The majority (93%) of millionaires did not attribute their wealth to six-figure salaries. Instead, they claimed to have become rich through hard work and avoiding debt.
- Only 31% of surveyed millionaires had a $100,000 annual income at some point in their careers, and one-third never reached this income level.
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Liquidity Among Millionaires:
- Only 27% of millionaires have liquidity, considering their investments in various assets such as stocks, mutual funds, retirement accounts, and real estate.
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Investment Preferences:
- Real estate makes up approximately 40% of a typical millionaire's net worth.
- Corporate equities and mutual fund shares constitute another 40% of their preferred investments.
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Property Ownership Among Millionaires:
- Contrary to the common perception of multiple property ownership, the average American millionaire prefers to own only one property (43%).
Global Perspective:
- International Comparison:
- The U.S. has the highest number of millionaires, with nearly 30 million, surpassing the combined total of China, Japan, Germany, the U.K., France, and Australia, which have 17 million millionaires.
Perception of Wealth:
-
Definition of Wealth:
- The term "millionaire" may not necessarily equate to substantial disposable wealth. The 2022 Charles Schwab Modern Wealth Survey suggests that Americans see a net worth of $2.2 million as the minimum to be considered "wealthy."
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Wealth Beyond Net Worth:
- Being a millionaire doesn't guarantee a significant amount of disposable wealth, especially in high-cost living areas. Factors like income, debt, and the cost of living play a crucial role in determining one's financial status.
In conclusion, understanding the dynamics of millionaire status involves considering inheritance, income sources, investment preferences, and the broader economic context, all of which contribute to the diverse financial landscapes of individuals labeled as millionaires.
