Richest Americans Gained 19% in Wealth as Poorest Lost 56% Since 2022
America’s wealthiest households gained nearly $800,000 in median net worth over three years, while median wealth among the poorest quarter fell by more than half, new Federal Reserve data showed Friday. Between 2022 and 2025, inflation-adjusted median wealth among the richest 10% rose 19%, from $4.15 million to $4.94 million. Among the poorest 25%, it plunged 56%, from $3,800 to just $1,700. The figures illustrate a K-shaped wealth divide, with affluent households gaining ground while poorer families fall behind. However, the Fed found that overall wealth inequality changed little, and median net worth across all families rose just 2%. Why Rising Stocks Didn’t Lift Everyone Stock prices climbed between the two surveys, but the gains were far from evenly distributed. The Fed’s survey found that 97% of the highest-income households owned stocks directly or indirectly, compared with just 31% of families in the bottom half of the income distribution. Although stock-market participation declined from 58% to 56%, median stock holdings among families that owned stocks jumped 36% to $77,400. The divide also extended across generations. Median wealth among households headed by Americans age
America’s wealthiest households gained nearly $800,000 in median net worth over three years, while median wealth among the poorest quarter fell by more than half, new Federal Reserve data showed Friday. 94 million. Among the poorest 25%, it plunged 56%, from $3,800 to just $1,700. The figures illustrate a K-shaped wealth divide, with affluent households gaining ground while poorer families fall behind.
However, the Fed found that overall wealth inequality changed little, and median net worth across all families rose just 2%. Why Rising Stocks Didn’t Lift Everyone Stock prices climbed between the two surveys, but the gains were far from evenly distributed. The Fed’s survey found that 97% of the highest-income households owned stocks directly or indirectly, compared with just 31% of families in the bottom half of the income distribution. Although stock-market participation declined from 58% to 56%, median stock holdings among families that owned stocks jumped 36% to $77,400.
The divide also extended across generations. Median wealth among households headed by Americans aged 75 and older rose 37% to $504,900, while those under 35 suffered a 23% decline to $33,000. The Fed attributed much of the younger group’s decline to the reversal of earlier gains in privately held businesses. 2% in 2022, the highest rate since the 2010 survey.
More than 8% reported being at least two months late, even as inflation-adjusted median family income increased 7%. 4%. S. recession by year-end.
American Express (NYSE: AXP ) is seeing a different side of the American economy. Its relatively affluent customers continue spending, with cardholder purchases rising 9% in the second quarter. Its net write-off rate held steady at 2%, while executives said they saw no general slowdown in spending. Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT ) presented a more mixed picture.
S. 6%, even as higher-income households led its market-share gains. CFO John David Rainey warned that consumers were making spending trade-offs as gasoline prices climbed above $4 a gallon. Walmart offered more than 11,000 price rollbacks during the quarter.
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