In the United States, there are around 24.5 million people who are millionaires. The United States is home to about 39.2% of all of the millionaires in the world. This is based on the number of people who have the equivalent of $1 million in U.S. assets.
There are about 336 million people in the U.S. With 24.5 million of them being millionaires, the odds that someone in the U.S. will end up a millionaire come in at around 7.29%.
Of course, some people are more likely to be among that 7.29% than others, including those who are born rich or who earn advanced degrees and go into lucrative professions. But, you don't have to be an heiress or a sports superstar to become a millionaire (although it helps). You can do a few simple things to increase your chances, including the following three moves.
1. Take steps to increase your income
One of the best ways to maximize your chances of becoming a millionaire is to take steps to earn more money over your lifetime. After all, the more you earn, the easier it is to invest in assets that will eventually generate $1 million or more of wealth.
You can earn more money by choosing your profession wisely, and by pursuing advanced degrees. Men who earn a bachelor's degree earn around $900,000 more in median lifetime income compared with males who have only a high school diploma. Women with bachelor's degrees earn $630,000 more in median income than their peers with just high school degrees. And men and women with graduate degrees will earn $1.5 million and $1.1 million more respectively, compared to high school graduates.
If you make hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars more over your lifetime, it will be a lot easier to do the things needed to achieve millionaire status -- like supercharging your savings.
2. Save early and often
You can also significantly increase your chances of becoming a millionaire by saving as much as you can and saving steadily. This is true no matter how much income you make.
Let's say you start saving at age 20. To have $1 million by age 65, you'd only have to invest $115.91 a month to achieve millionaire status (assuming a 10% average annual rate of return, the approximate 50-year average return of the S&P 500). If you waited until age 45 to invest, you'd need to invest $1,454.96 per month instead.
If you start saving at a young enough age, your odds of becoming a millionaire are increased significantly since it's a lot more feasible to find a couple hundred dollars to save monthly than it is to find a couple thousand. You could have a great chance of ending up with a seven-figure nest egg if you make consistent investments over a long time.
3. Invest wisely
Finally, you'll need to invest wisely. This means putting money into a brokerage account and investing some of it in the stock market so you stand a chance to earn the returns you'll need to become a millionaire.
If you invested your $115.91 a month starting at age 20 but you earned just a 3% rate of return because you kept your money in a savings account, you'd only have $127,957.19. You need compound growth to work for you (which is what happens when you invest, earn returns, and those returns are reinvested to earn you more money).
The good news is, you don't need to pick stocks to invest wisely. Just put your money into an ETF tracking the S&P 500, a financial index of 500 large U.S. companies that has produced 10% average annual returns over the long run.
While the overall odds of someone in the U.S. becoming a millionaire are about 7.29% based on the percentage of the population with that much money, you can increase your odds significantly if you just take these simple steps.
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FAQs
This is based on the number of people who have the equivalent of $1 million in U.S. assets. There are about 336 million people in the U.S. With 24.5 million of them being millionaires, the odds that someone in the U.S. will end up a millionaire come in at around 7.29%.
What are the odds of becoming a millionaire? ›
What Are Your Odds of Becoming a Millionaire? Transcript
| What Are Your Odds of Becoming a Millionaire? |
|---|
| Percentage of people who are millionaires in America | 1 in 32 (3%) |
|---|
| White | 1 in 5 (21.5%) |
| Hispanic | 1 in 15 (6.8%) |
| Black | 1 in 16 (6.4%) |
19 more rowsOut of a population of 8.1 billion people, just 62.4 million are millionaires. That's 0.8% of the population. There are 8.4 million people globally with a net worth of $5 million or more. Having this level of wealth would put you in the top 0.1%.
How hard is it to become a millionaire? ›
Even with a $150,000 starting investment, it would still take you 22 years to reach the $1 million mark. Of course, with the use of the steps already mentioned, plus consistent determination, diligence and perseverance, you can reach your goal of becoming a millionaire even more quickly than the previous example.
How most people become millionaires? ›
The majority of millionaires are self-made and have accumulated their wealth through a combination of hard work, education and investing. Tim Corley, a wealth expert and author, has spent years interviewing hundreds of millionaires to learn their habits and how they think.
Are millionaires top 1%? ›
In the U.S., it may take you $5.81 million to be in the top 1%, but it takes a minimum net worth of $30 million to be considered among the ultra-high net worth crowd. As of the end of 2023, this ultra-high net worth population is on the rise, reaching 626,000 globally, up from just over 600,000 a year earlier.
Is a millionaire in the 1%? ›
You need more money than ever to enter the ranks of the top 1% of the richest Americans. To join the club of the wealthiest citizens in the U.S., you'll need at least $5.8 million, up about 15% up from $5.1 million one year ago, according to global real estate company Knight Frank's 2024 Wealth Report.
What do 90% of millionaires do? ›
Real estate investment is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Instead, it's a long-term strategy that can steadily build wealth over time. As you continue to own and manage properties, their value appreciates, and your equity grows. Diversifying your investment portfolio is a crucial wealth-building strategy.
What do 90% of millionaires have in common? ›
Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.
What is 1% of the world's money? ›
$26 trillion (63 percent) was captured by the richest 1 percent, while $16 trillion (37 percent) went to the bottom 99 percent. According to Credit Suisse, individuals with more than $1 million in wealth sit in the top 1 percent bracket.
The average age of a first time millionaires is 37, it has been found. In data released by Betway Insider, the average age of a first time billionaire is also revealed: and is a little higher at 51. So, if you're not quite there yet, what can you do to make your first million?
What age is too late to become a millionaire? ›
This may seem daunting, but the truth is, it's never too late to start. For example, if you are 35 years old and just starting to take control of your finances, you can still reach millionaire status by the time you're 62, which is before normal retirement age.
How likely is it to get rich? ›
There are about 336 million people in the U.S. With 24.5 million of them being millionaires, the odds that someone in the U.S. will end up a millionaire come in at around 7.29%.
Are most millionaires born or made? ›
How millionaires get rich. Most of today's millionaires weren't born into their wealth, research shows. A study published by Wealth-X found that around 68 percent of those with a net worth of $30 million or more made it themselves.
Can you get rich in 3 months? ›
Becoming a millionaire in just 3 months is a highly ambitious and unrealistic goal for most people. Building wealth and financial stability typically takes time, hard work, and smart financial planning.
What millionaires don t waste money on? ›
The 10 things that millionaires typically avoid spending their money on include credit card debt, lottery tickets, expensive cars, impulse purchases, late fees, designer clothes, groceries and household items, luxury housing, entertainment and leisure, and low-interest savings accounts.
Where do 90% of millionaires come from? ›
If 90% of millionaires come from real estate, then 100% of billionaires come from private equity. And every month I acquire several new companies. We've gotten into the game of mergers, acquisitions.
What makes 90% of millionaires? ›
Real Estate: The Cornerstone of Wealth
During an episode of her show, Moriarity says statistics show that 90% of millionaires have achieved this milestone through real estate investment. Real estate, including one's primary residence, often makes up a substantial portion of a millionaire's net worth.
Is it true that 90 of millionaires make over $100 000 a year? ›
Choose the right career
And one crucial detail to note: Millionaire status doesn't equal a sky-high salary. “Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career,” the study found, “and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.”
