I Looked Up Where You Rank in Net Worth. The Number Might Surprise You.

You have a number in your head.

A rough sense of where you stand financially compared to other people your age. Whether you're "ahead" or "behind." Whether you're doing okay or falling short.

That number is almost certainly wrong.

Because unless you've looked at the actual data, you're comparing yourself to Instagram highlight reels, coworkers who lie about money, and a vague sense of what "normal" looks like.

I'm going to show you the real numbers - where Americans actually stand by age - and give you a way to find your exact rank in 60 seconds.

Some of you will feel relieved. Some of you will feel sick.

Either way, you'll finally know the truth.

The Net Worth Reality Check

Here's median net worth by age in the United States (Federal Reserve data):

Under 35: $39,000

35–44: $135,600

45–54: $247,200

55–64: $364,500

65–74: $409,900

75+: $335,600

Median means half of people have more, half have less.

Look at those numbers again.

The median American under 35 has a net worth of $39,000. That includes home equity, retirement accounts, everything.

If you're 30 years old with $50,000 in net worth, you're doing better than half the people your age.

Does that surprise you?

Why You Probably Think You're Behind

Social media has completely destroyed your sense of financial normalcy.

You see:

28-year-olds showing off Porsches

Instagram influencers in luxury apartments

Crypto bros flashing gains

People your age traveling constantly

And you think: "Everyone is doing better than me. I'm behind."

You're not behind. You're comparing yourself to the highlight reel of the top 1% while the actual median person your age has less than $40,000.

The people flashing wealth online are either:

Actually wealthy (rare)

In massive debt performing wealth (common)

Lying (extremely common)

The real data tells a different story than Instagram does.

Where Do YOU Actually Rank?

Here's how to find out exactly where you stand.

Step 1: Calculate your net worth

Assets (what you own):

• Cash and savings

• Investment accounts (401k, IRA, brokerage)

• Home equity (home value minus mortgage balance)

• Car value

• Other assets

Minus Liabilities (what you owe):

• Mortgage balance (if not already subtracted above)

• Student loans

• Car loans

• Credit card debt

• Other debt

Net Worth = Assets - Liabilities

Do this right now. I'll wait.

Got your number?

Step 2: Find your percentile

Here are the percentile breakdowns for American households:

Top 50%: Net worth above ~$192,000

Top 25%: Net worth above ~$560,000

Top 10%: Net worth above ~$1,900,000

Top 5%: Net worth above ~$3,800,000

Top 1%: Net worth above ~$13,000,000

But those are ALL households, all ages combined. An older person should have more than a younger person.

Here's a better breakdown BY AGE:

To be in the top 10% for your age group:

Under 35: ~$250,000+

35–44: ~$750,000+

45–54: ~$1,250,000+

55–64: ~$2,100,000+

To be in the top 25% for your age group:

Under 35: ~$100,000+

35–44: ~$340,000+

45–54: ~$550,000+

55–64: ~$850,000+

Where do you fall?

What Your Number Actually Means

If you're above median for your age - take a breath.

You're doing better than half the people in your generation. The anxiety you've been carrying? Probably not justified by the data. You're not behind. You might actually be ahead.

Keep doing what you're doing. Don't let lifestyle inflation erode your position.

If you're below median for your age - you have information now.

This isn't a judgment. It's a data point. And data points are useful because you can change them.

You now know exactly where you stand. That's better than the vague anxiety of not knowing. You can make a plan.

If you're in the top 25% - you're doing something right.

Most people your age will never reach this level. Protect it. Don't let a dumb car purchase or lifestyle creep knock you down.

If you're in the top 10% - you're on track for real financial freedom.

This is rare. Especially for younger age groups. You've either earned a high income, saved aggressively, or been consistent for a long time. Don't take it for granted.

The Uncomfortable Truth the Data Reveals

Let's be honest about what these numbers mean:

Most people have almost nothing saved.

Median net worth under 35 is $39,000 - and that includes home equity.

Liquid savings and investments? Much lower.

Median net worth at 55–64 is $364,500 - and these are people approaching retirement.

At 4% withdrawal, $364,500 generates $14,580/year. That's not retirement. That's poverty with a 401k.

The median American is not financially okay. They're one emergency away from crisis and heading toward a retirement funded almost entirely by Social Security.

If you're anywhere above median, you're in a better position than most. That's not bragging - that's math.

The Top 10% Is More Achievable Than You Think

Here's what might surprise you:

To be in the top 10% of net worth for people under 35, you need about $250,000.

That sounds like a lot. But let's break it down:

If you start at 22 and invest $500/month at 10% returns:

By age 30: ~$70,000

By age 35: ~$130,000

That's just from investing. Add in:

Employer 401k match

Home equity if you bought property

Any other savings

$250,000 by 35 is aggressive but achievable with a solid income and consistent investing.

You don't need to be a tech millionaire. You don't need to start a company.

You don't need to get lucky.

You need to be consistent while everyone else is spending everything they earn.

The bar is lower than social media makes it seem - because most people aren't even trying.

Why Knowing Your Rank Matters

This isn't about competition. It's about calibration.

Without knowing where you actually stand, you're navigating blind:

You might be stressing about nothing (above median but feeling behind)

You might be ignoring a real problem (below median but assuming you're fine)

You might be coasting when you should be pushing (top 25% but treating it like top 10%)

The rank gives you context. Context lets you make better decisions.

Are you doing well enough to ease up? Or do you need to get aggressive?

You can't answer that question without the data.

What Actually Moves You Up

Once you know where you stand, here's what moves the needle:

1. The gap between income and expenses

This is everything. The bigger the gap, the faster you climb. Most people have almost no gap - their expenses rise with their income. If you maintain a gap of 20–30% of income, you'll pass most people your age within a decade.

2. Time in the market

The people in the top 10% mostly aren't there because they earned dramatically more. They're there because they started earlier and never stopped. Compound interest is the great separator.

3. Avoiding catastrophic mistakes

Divorce (from poor relationship choices), bad debt, lifestyle inflation, panic selling - these destroy net worth faster than good decisions build it. Sometimes the best thing you can do is not mess up.

4. Home equity (for some people)

Real estate can accelerate net worth through forced savings (mortgage payments) and appreciation. It's not for everyone, but it's why many older households have higher net worth - their homes appreciated while they paid down mortgages.

The Comparison That Actually Matters

Here's the truth about net worth rankings:

It doesn't matter if you're in the top 20% or top 30%.

What matters is: Are you on track for YOUR goals?

If your goal is to retire at 55, being "above median" doesn't mean anything if you're not hitting the number you need.

If your goal is basic financial security, being in the top 10% might be overkill.

The ranking is useful for calibration - for understanding where you stand relative to reality instead of relative to Instagram.

But ultimately, you should compare yourself to your own Freedom Figure (annual expenses × 25). That's the number that determines when work becomes optional for YOU.

The 60-Second Net Worth Check

Do this right now:

Step 1: Add up everything you own (savings, investments, home equity, etc.)

Step 2: Subtract everything you owe (mortgage, loans, credit cards, etc.)

Step 3: That's your net worth

Step 4: Compare to the median for your age group:

Under 35: $39,000

35–44: $135,600

45–54: $247,200

55–64: $364,500

Step 5: Check if you're in the top 25% or top 10% for your age

That's it. 60 seconds. Now you know.

You've been walking around with a vague sense of where you stand financially….

That vague sense was probably wrong - distorted by social media, by coworkers who lie, by a culture that makes everyone feel behind.

The real data tells a different story.

The median American your age has less than you probably thought. The top 10% is more achievable than it seems. And wherever you currently rank, you now have a real number instead of a feeling.

Some of you just discovered you're doing better than you realized. Breathe. Keep going.

Some of you just discovered you have work to do. Good. Now you know.

Either way, you're no longer guessing.

And knowing where you actually stand is the first step to getting where you want to be.

Investing is the EXIT.

-

Today's FL10 Workout: Elevator Wait Burn

Anywhere • Isometric • 2 Minutes for each exercise

Wall Sit

Calf Raise Hold

Isometric Squat

Glute Squeeze

Core Brace

Total Time: 10 Minutes

10 minute workouts you can do anywhere.

This article is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered financial or legal advice. Consult a financial professional before making any significant financial decisions.