How Much Does it Take to Be Wealthy in America?
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According to a 2023 survey, the average net worth Americans say is needed to be considered "wealthy" is $2.2 million. This ranges from $4.7 million in San Francisco to $2.1 million in Houston.
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However, 48% of respondents said they feel wealthy despite having an average net worth of just $560,000, revealing a paradox between perception and reality.
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People in high cost-of-living cities like San Francisco and New York have higher wealth benchmarks, while those in lower cost cities like Houston have lower benchmarks.
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Many Americans value non-monetary aspects like fulfilling relationships and experiences over pure net worth when defining wealth.
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Beyond just dollars, factors like time, quality of life, and career fulfillment shape how people evaluate their financial health and feelings of wealth.