What Is Your Net Worth?
Add up everything you own, subtract everything you owe. See where you stand compared to the average American by age.
Why Net Worth Matters More Than Income
A person earning $200,000/year with $300,000 in debt has a lower net worth than someone earning $50,000 with $150,000 saved. Net worth measures wealth; income measures cash flow. Tracking net worth over time is the single best indicator of financial health — it should grow every year.
Average Net Worth by Age (2026)
Federal Reserve data shows median net worth by age: under 35: ~$39,000; 35-44: ~$135,000; 45-54: ~$247,000; 55-64: ~$364,000; 65-74: ~$410,000. These include home equity, which accounts for the largest share for most Americans. If you exclude home equity, the numbers drop dramatically.
How to Increase Net Worth
Three levers: increase assets (save and invest more), decrease liabilities (pay down debt), or both. The highest-impact actions: maximize 401k/IRA contributions (tax-advantaged growth), pay off high-interest debt first (credit cards at 20%+ are wealth destroyers), and avoid lifestyle inflation when income grows.
The Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances shows that the median American household net worth is $192,900 — but the mean is $1,063,700. This massive gap between median and mean reflects extreme wealth concentration at the top.
