Very few Americans have $2.5 million in retirement savings, with estimates suggesting less than 1% (around 0.8%) of U.S. households, according to Employee Benefit Research Institute data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, placing this level of wealth firmly in the top echelon of savers. While the exact number fluctuates, reaching $2.5 million is a rare feat, requiring consistent, early, and aggressive saving and investing over decades.
Average American retirement savings vary significantly by age, with younger groups having less and older groups accumulating more, but median figures show a gap between average (skewed by high earners) and typical savings; for example, those 55-64 average around $537k but have a median of $185k, while many retirees have less than $500k, and a surprising number (around 29% in a recent survey) have no savings at all.
Believe it or not, data from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances indicates that only 9% of American households have managed to save $500,000 or more for their retirement. This means less than one in ten families have achieved this financial goal.
If you have $2.5 million saved for retirement, you're among a select group of Americans. Only 1.8% of households have $2 million in retirement accounts and just 0.8% have reached $3 million, according to an Employee Benefit Research Institute analysis of Federal Reserve data.
Achieving a $2 million nest egg for retirement is relatively uncommon among Americans. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, less than 2% of households have $2 million or more saved for retirement.
That said, many experts recommend withdrawing 3% for early retirees. You say you've read it's possible to pursue an early retirement after attaining $2 million, and that may very well be the case for some people. But it isn't the ideal figure for you if it means you and your wife aren't happy anymore.
A good retirement nest egg aims to replace 80% of your pre-retirement income, often needing 10-12 times your final salary saved by age 67, but the exact amount varies widely based on lifestyle, desired retirement age, location, and expenses like healthcare. Key benchmarks include saving 1x salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67, with a 15% savings rate of your income being a strong general goal.
Only a small fraction of Americans, around 3% to 4.7%, actually retire with $1 million or more in retirement accounts, according to Federal Reserve data, despite many feeling they need that much for comfort. The median savings for those approaching retirement (ages 65-74) is much lower, around $200,000-$609,000, making the million-dollar milestone rare, though "401(k) millionaires" are growing in number.
Empower Personal DashboardTM data shows 9.1% of people fall into the category of 401(k) millionaire as of September 30, 2025, having accumulated at least $1 million in retirement savings in employer-sponsored plans and individually controlled IRA savings and investment accounts.
Americans ages 65–74 have a median net worth of $410,000, the highest of any age group. About 76% own a home and 51% have a retirement account, making home equity and savings the biggest drivers of wealth at this stage.
– More than 12 percent said they have $100,000 to $199,999. – Nearly 10 percent have $200,000 to $299,999. – About 16 percent have $300,000 or more in retirement savings.
According to estimates based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, a mere 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts. The number of those with $2 million or more is even smaller, falling somewhere between this 3.2% and the 0.1% who have $5 million or more saved.
For single-income married couples with the same household income, the average retirement savings are $337,500, around 4.5 times the household income. A dual-income married couple aged 65 has an average retirement savings of $675,000.
In fact, Americans now think it takes an average of $2.3 million to be considered wealthy, according to a Charles Schwab report.
About 90% of millionaires build wealth through long-term investing, often focusing on real estate, starting their own businesses, and making consistent, disciplined financial choices like budgeting, saving, and continuous self-education, rather than flashy spending, with a strong belief in controlling their own financial destiny. They prioritize tangible assets and income streams, using strategies like leverage and tax benefits, and avoid excessive spending on depreciating assets like luxury cars.
In the organisation's super balance update, it found 2.5 per cent of the population have a super account of more than $1 million, as of June 2021. This represents 417,567 individuals, ASFA said, and is a 29 per cent increase from the 322,200 individuals who held over $1 million in June 2019.
The benchmark reflects the longer time savings must last and the delay in Social Security eligibility. For someone expecting to spend $60,000 annually in retirement, that would mean accumulating roughly $2 million in savings by age 55.
The short answer: to retire on $80,000 a year in Australia, you'll need a super balance of roughly between $700,000 and $1.4 million. It's a broad range, and that's because everyone's circumstances are different.