Median Wealth In The U.S. Falls (As Too Much Goes To The Rich)

 

The following is part of an article from Daniel Orton at Newsweek:

The typical American has suffered a major decline in wealth since the start of the decade, even as the United States has continued to create millionaires at a remarkable pace, according to UBS’ Global Wealth Report 2026.

UBS found that inflation-adjusted median wealth per adult in the U.S. fell significantly between 2020 and 2025, while average wealth per adult increased, underscoring a growing divide between households in the middle and those at the top of the wealth ladder.

The distinction is crucial. Median wealth reflects the assets held by people in the middle of the wealth distribution and is often viewed as a better measure of the financial position of a typical household. Average wealth, by contrast, can be heavily influenced by gains among the wealthiest Americans.

Despite the decline for the median American, the U.S. remains one of the wealthiest countries in the world. UBS estimates average wealth per adult at $696,277, the second-highest level among the markets surveyed. Yet median wealth stands at only $68,998, highlighting the extent to which wealth is concentrated among a relatively small share of households. . . .

For middle-class Americans, the findings suggest that the benefits of rising asset prices have not been evenly distributed. While stock markets and other financial assets have helped boost overall wealth figures, many households have not experienced comparable gains after accounting for inflation. The result is a situation in which the country is becoming wealthier on paper while the financial position of the median American has deteriorated.

The divide is reflected in the report’s measure of wealth inequality. The U.S. recorded a wealth Gini coefficient of 0.77, the sixth-highest among the 56 markets analyzed. The measure, which tracks how concentrated wealth is within a population, indicates that a relatively small share of households holds a disproportionate share of the country’s assets.

UBS also found that the U.S. ranks second in average wealth but only 28th in median wealth, one of the clearest indications in the report that gains have been concentrated among wealthier households.