Americans over 75 are now 15 times wealthier than the youngest families, while this ratio rose to 9 times in 2022. The share of households under 35 that own their home in the United States has also declined, from 38.5% in 2022 to 35.6% in 2025.
These data confirm a two-speed American economy, characterized by seniors who continue to get rich and consume, facing young people who are struggling to cope with persistent inflation across the Atlantic.
Disparities also manifest themselves across other categories of the population. The best paid 10% were much better off with an increase of 31% compared to a decrease of 6% for the lowest paid 20%, as well as owners who showed an increase of 6% compared to tenants who fell by 7%. The fall in median net worth of the youngest is partly explained by a return to normal after an exceptional increase recorded between 2019 and 2022 of 140%.
The median net wealth of households occupied by at least one person over 75 years old jumped by 37% between 2022 and 2025 to reach nearly $505,000, driven mainly by their financial and real estate income.
Conversely, the situation is not as favorable for the younger generations. The median net worth of families where the reference person is under 35 years old fell by 23% over the same period to stand at $33,000. This oldest category of the population has now become the richest in the country, ahead of those aged 65-74 whose median wealth stands at $432,000, down 4%.
Americans have continued to get richer since the end of the Covid crisis, but not all have seen their wealth increase in the same way over the last three years. If the median net wealth of Americans increased by 2% between 2022 and 2025, the situation diverges significantly depending on the generation.