American upper class

Net personal wealth in the U.S. since 1962

The average personal wealth of people in the top 1% is more than a thousand times that of people in bottom 50%.^[1]

The logarithmic scale shows how wealth has increased for all percentile groups, though moreso for wealthier people.^[1]

The American upper class is a social group within the United States consisting of people who have the highest social rank, due to economic wealth, lineage, and typically educational attainment.^[2][3]

The American upper class is distinguished from the rest of the population due to the fact that its primary source of income consists of assets, investments, and capital gains rather than wages and salaries. Its members include owners of large private companies, heirs to fortunes, and top executives of publicly traded corporations. The American upper class is estimated to be the richest 1% of the population.