Household wealth is concentrated among older Americans

Summary

• Households aged 55 and over held nearly $140 trillion in net worth as of the second quarter of 2026.
• This amount represents roughly three-quarters of the total US net worth.
• Census Bureau research indicates that around 14% of Social Security recipients over age 65 rely on it for more than 90% of their income.
• Wealth distribution among older cohorts is not even, meaning not all older households are likely to benefit from this concentration.
• The data source for net worth figures is the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
• The publication date of the report is 06 October 2026.