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These 18 million households now rank as the richest in the U.S., new Fed data shows
CBS News • • business
Key Points:
- U.S. households headed by individuals aged 75 or older have the highest median net worth at $504,000 in 2025, with this group also experiencing the largest increase in median net worth and income since 2022.
- Households aged 65 to 74 saw a 37% increase in wealth between 2022 and 2025, benefiting from strong stock market gains, including a 78% rise in the S&P 500 during this period.
- The richest 10% of American families saw their median net worth rise 31% to $3.6 million from 2022 to 2025, while Fidelity reported a record 769,000 401(k) accounts with at least $1 million.
- Despite wealth gains among older and richer Americans, about 20% of U.S. households were behind on debt repayments in 2025, a 7-percentage-point increase since 2022, reflecting financial strain from prolonged inflation.
- Younger households led by individuals under 35 experienced a 23% drop in median net worth to $33,000, mainly due to decreased business equity gains, highlighting growing economic challenges for younger Americans.
