What Net Worth Means
Net worth is the difference between a person's total assets and total liabilities. Assets include cash, investments, real estate, and business interests. Liabilities include mortgages, loans, and credit card balances. A positive number means assets exceed debts.
Public Records and Reported Figures
You can start with public filings such as property records, SEC disclosures, and business registrations. Wealthy individuals often report assets in regulatory documents. For public companies, financial reports show executive compensation and holdings. You can search property records through official county or state portals like IRS.gov.
Estimating Private Assets and Debts
For private assets, use recent appraisals, market comparables, and brokerage statements when available. Real estate can be estimated with local sale prices. Business valuations may rely on revenue multiples or discounted cash flow models. Subtract known debts such as mortgages and loans to approximate net worth.
