Wealth in America

Unequal Wealth Distribution

America's roughly 800 billionaires collectively hold $6 Trillion.

***In 2023, the US Federal Government's total spending was $6.16 Trillion***

Elected Officials are paid over 2x the average American salary

In 2023, 59.7% of US households made under $99,999 a year. 76.7% made under $149,999.

In 2023, the bottom 50% held just 3% of wealth in America, while the top 0.1% holds 14%. In total, the top 10% own more than the bottom 90% combined, totaling about $95 trillion.

The top 0.1% has seen an increase from owning 13.4% of wealth in 2001 to 15.7% in 2016.

**The Guardian reported that the top 0.1% owns almost the same amount as the bottom 90%**

The middle and lower classes have not seen the same increases as the upper class. From 1970 to 2018, the middle class median income increased 49%, and the lower class increased 43%, yet the upper class median income increase 64%.

In the same time frame, aggregate income held bu the middle class fell almost 20% (from 62% to 43%), while the upper class income increase from 29% to 48%.

Between 2001 and 2016, middle class families faced a decrease in median net worth of 20% and lower class families median net worth decreased by 45%. In contrast, Upper class families were able to increase their median wealth by 33%.

Between 1983 and 2016, the share of aggregate wealth going to upper class families increased from 60% to 70%. In that same time, the share held by middle class families fell from 32% to 17% and lower income families share fell from 7% to 4%.