What Net Worth Defines the Top 1% in the US
The top 1% of US households are generally defined by the highest net worth percentiles, where a household’s net worth equals assets minus liabilities. Federal Reserve data and economists often use the Survey of Consumer Finances and the Federal Reserve’s Distributional Financial Accounts to identify these thresholds.
How Many Households Qualify and Typical Thresholds
There are roughly 13 to 15 million US households in the top 1%, depending on the year and data source. Net worth cutoffs shift with asset prices and debt levels, but analysts commonly cite thresholds in the several million dollars range for the top percentile.
Where the Data Comes From
The primary sources are the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances and the Distributional Financial Accounts, which are widely cited in economic research. Additional breakdowns can be found through academic studies and institutions that analyze household balance sheet data.
For more detail on net worth distribution and methodology, see the Federal Reserve’s official release on household wealth.
