An ultra-high-net-worth individual typically refers to someone whose net worth surpasses $30 million, setting them apart from high-net-worth individuals who usually have assets between $1 million and $30 million.
That's because the number of individuals with more than $30 million in assets—the generally accepted threshold for the “ultra-high-net-worth individuals”— grew from 157,000 in 2016 to 220,000 in 2023, according to data from Capgemini.
The Top 1% by Net Worth
To be part of the top 1% in the U.S., a household's net worth needs to be at least $13.6 million. This measure includes everything you own – homes, investments, savings – minus debts. Wealth tends to be a lot more unevenly distributed than income.
Probably 1 in every 20 families have a net worth exceeding $3 Million, but most people's net worth is their homes, cars, boats, and only 10% is in savings, so you would typically have to have a net worth of $30 million, which is 1 in every 1000 families.
Key Takeaways. The lower class has a median net worth of about $3,500, while the upper class has one of about $7.81 million. The middle class has a median net worth that ranges from $93,300 to $1.04 million.
An ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI) holds at least US$30 million in investable assets (adjusted for inflation).
Net worth is a measure of what you own minus what you owe. It's calculated by subtracting all of your liabilities from all of your assets. In addition to your home, key assets include investments, automobiles, collectibles, and jewelry.
But after that, you are left on your own. That could explain why there are roughly 8.3 million millionaires in the U.S. … but only 1.4 million people with a net worth of $5 million or more. In other words, only 17% of people who reach $1 million in net worth then go on to get $5 million.
What is a good net worth for my age? People in their 20s and 30s should target net worth of $100,000 to $300,000. A net worth of $1 million or more should be the goal in your 40s and beyond. A seven-figure net worth is usually necessary to ensure a comfortable retirement.
Americans say you need a net worth of at least $2.5 million to feel wealthy, according to Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey, which surveyed 1,000 Americans ages 21 to 75 in March 2024.
(informal) Very wealthy; rich.
According to data based on estimates from the Federal Reserve, having a net worth of $4 million places you in the top 3% of American households. That's an elite group, for sure. Leigh Baldwin & Co. Advisory Services reports about 4,473,836 U.S. households have amassed $4 million or more in wealth.
"For estate tax purposes all assets should be listed on the net worth statement, including tangible personal property like clothing, jewelry, furniture, cars, collections and art.
An owned primary residence and a retirement account are the two most valuable assets for U.S. households. In 2021, homeowners typically had $174,000 in equity in their homes. (Equity is the difference between the value of the home and the debt on that home.)
According to some experts, the optimal range for home-ownership is between 10% and 30% of your net worth. Rental properties and passive income: Rental properties are another common and attractive form of real estate.
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals are those with a net worth of at least $30 million, according to Knight Frank. The U.S. is home to the most UHNWIs in the world: 208,560. Most UHNWIs allocate a significant portion of their portfolios to equities, commercial real estate, and bonds.
Very-high-net-worth individuals have investable assets of at least $5 million, while ultra-high-net-worth individuals have at least $30 million in investable assets.
According to recent data from the Federal Reserve, a net worth of at least $3,795,000 places you among the coveted top 5% of U.S. households. While this may seem like a substantial sum, it pales compared to the ultra-affluent's stratospheric wealth.
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.
While there's no legal standard when it comes to defining who is an ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI), they're often defined as those who have $30 million or more in assets. These funds must be in investable assets, which is an important distinction to make.