When you think of rich people, you probably think of people with a lot of big, expensive stuff: multiple houses, cars worth six figures, and yachts to drive them to their private islands. But most of them also have money they just sit on. They keep money in checking and savings accounts just like you and I do -- except obviously they have a lot more.
If you've ever been curious, the Federal Reserve's latest Survey of Consumer Finances gives us a little insight into just how much rich people actually keep in the bank.
How big is that bank account?
We all probably have our own definitions of what constitutes a rich person, but for this discussion, we're going to look at households whose usual income falls in the top 10% of all Americans. For 2022, those in the 90th percentile made about $245,400 on average.
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If you're wondering how this compares to the rest of the country, here's a breakdown of the average usual income for selected percentiles. Keep in mind these are household figures, not individual ones.
| Percentile of Income | Average Usual Annual Income |
|---|
| 90% | $245,400 |
| 80% | $153,100 |
| 60% | $91,900 |
| 50% | $73,400 |
| 40% | $59,500 |
| 20% | $34,600 |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
I probably don't need to tell you the richest households have no problem stashing money away. But to get a sense of just how much more they have than others, it helps to look at what people of other income levels have saved on average. So here's a breakdown based on the latest data from 2022:
| Percentile of Income | Average Bank Account Balance |
|---|
| 90% to 100% | $111,600 |
| 80% to 89% | $33,800 |
| 60% to 79% | $15,760 |
| 40% to 59% | $7,400 |
| 20% to 39% | $2,550 |
| Less than 20% | $900 |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
The general pattern isn't surprising. A higher income makes it a lot easier to stash money in the bank. What is surprising is how much more the richest 10% have saved compared to the bottom 20%. The wealthiest 10% earn about seven times more than the bottom 20%, yet their savings are 124 times higher. That's quite the difference.
How to start growing your savings
I won't sit here and pretend you can penny-pinch your way to a six-figure bank account balance if you're currently in the bottom 20% with $900 or less in your checking account. It's probably not going to happen. But there are a few things you can try that could help you get your personal finances on a firmer footing.
First, choose the right accounts for your money. A lot of brick-and-mortar banks have maintenance fees and they don't pay you a lot in interest. That's bad news for anyone, but especially those who don't have a ton of extra cash.
Online banks, on the other hand, are known for offering high interest rates on savings accounts and some offer interest on checking accounts as well. Most don't charge maintenance fees or have minimum balance requirements either. Switching to one of these could potentially put more money in your pocket because you'll be able to ditch any monthly bank fees you're paying now, and you could earn more in interest.
You could also look into community and government programs, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, that help low-income families with their everyday expenses. This could potentially free up a little extra cash you could put into savings.
And if cutting your expenses back isn't possible, see if you can find ways to boost your income. You could try a side hustle if you have some spare time. Or see if you're able to negotiate a higher salary at your current job.
Saving regularly is ideal, but if you're not able to do this, set aside money when you can. Even if it's just $5 or $10 here and there, it adds up. Over time, you can work toward an emergency fund that can help you avoid major financial setbacks when unexpected costs come up. Once you've got that taken care of, you can start working toward some of your longer-term goals.
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FAQs
“Millionaires' checking accounts are all over the place,” Thompson said. “Some clients will only keep enough to pay for immediate expenses (e.g., $10,000) and others will have $150,000 in checking on any given day.”
How much money does the average person have in the bank? ›
According to data from the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the average American family has $62,410 in savings, across savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, call deposit accounts, and prepaid cards.
How much money in the bank is considered rich? ›
Someone who has $1 million in liquid assets, for instance, is usually considered to be a high net worth (HNW) individual. You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth.
At what net worth are you considered rich? ›
According to Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, Americans perceive an average net worth of $2.2 million as wealthy. Knight Frank's research indicates that a net worth of $4.4 million is required to be in the top 1% in America, a figure much higher than in countries like Japan, the U.K. and Australia.
How much money does the average man have in his bank account? ›
The median savings account balance for all families in the U.S. was $8,000 in 2022. Generally, higher-income earners and older individuals save more than younger ones. Some experts suggest three to six months' living expenses as a goal.
Can you have a billion dollars in a bank account? ›
Is it possible to have one billion dollars in your personal savings account, if yes, what are the implications? Short answer is Yes, you can have 1 billion dollars in your personal savings account.
How many Americans have $100,000 in savings? ›
Most American households have at least $1,000 in checking or savings accounts. But only about 12% have more than $100,000 in checking and savings.
How many Americans have $200,000 in savings? ›
9% of Americans have between $100,000 and $200,000 saved, and 4% have between $200,000 and $350,000 saved. Finally, 4% have between $350,000 and $500,000 saved, and about 4% have more than $500,000.
How many people have $1,000 in their bank account? ›
Just 45% of all Americans have $1,000 or more in savings.
What is considered rich in 2024? ›
For example, individuals with $1 million in liquid assets are generally classified as having a high net worth. To be considered very high net worth, one might need assets ranging from $5 million to $10 million, while an ultra-high net worth status could require $30 million or more.
Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range. "The upper middle class has grown...and its composition has changed.
What is considered middle upper class? ›
One common way to classify the upper middle class is based on income. The upper middle class is often defined as the top 15% to 20% of earners. According to the Social Security Administration's 2022 wage data, the average upper-middle-class income was roughly between $80,000 and $100,000.
How many people have $3000000 in savings in the USA? ›
This effectively means the top 1% are those with more than $10 million (~25m) and the top 0.1% are those with roughly $1 billion. There are estimated to be a little over 8 million households in the US with a net worth of $3 million or more. I very much doubt that any of them have that amount in savings.
How can you tell if someone is rich? ›
Here are eight subtle ways you can tell that someone is a millionaire.
- They Value Their Time. ...
- They Don't Talk About Money. ...
- Their Things Are Customized. ...
- They Own Multiple Properties. ...
- They Have an Expensive Hobby. ...
- They Are Well-Traveled. ...
- They Can Speak Multiple Languages. ...
- The Keep a Close Circle.
Many millionaires keep a lot of their money in cash or highly liquid cash equivalents. They establish an emergency account before ever starting to invest. Millionaires bank differently than the rest of us. Any bank accounts they have are handled by a private banker who probably also manages their wealth.
Where do millionaires keep their money if banks only insure 250k? ›
Millionaires don't worry about FDIC insurance. Their money is held in their name and not the name of the custodial private bank. Other millionaires have safe deposit boxes full of cash denominated in many different currencies.
Do people keep millions of dollars in the bank? ›
Some do. Or at least parts of their wealth. But more likely they have their money — or the majority of it — tied up in diversified assets, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, art/wine collections and/or gold.
Do rich people have normal bank accounts? ›
Since they tend to have more assets, they're especially drawn to more personalized services with more features, account options and access to a private banker, which are all perks that most banks offer when your assets grow. Below are some of the ways the rich choose their banks and where to place their wealth.
