The chasm between the rich and the rest has widened further as the top 1% of Americans achieve an unprecedented milestone in wealth accumulation, collectively amassing a staggering net worth exceeding $44 trillion. This historic feat, unveiled in a recent report by the Federal Reserve, underscores the unparalleled prosperity enjoyed by a select few amidst a landscape of economic disparity.
According to the Federal Reserve’s data, individuals with net worths surpassing $11 million witnessed a monumental surge of $2 trillion in the final quarter of the previous year. The driving force behind this exponential growth? A rampant bull market that propelled stock values to soaring heights. The value of corporate equities and mutual fund shares held by this privileged cohort skyrocketed to a staggering $19.7 trillion, eclipsing previous records with ease. Although marginal gains were observed in real estate values, the decline in the value of privately held businesses failed to offset the mammoth gains derived from stock market investments.
This phenomenal surge in wealth represents a continuation of the remarkable rally that commenced during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the dawn of 2020, the wealth of the top 1% has witnessed an astronomical surge, catapulting by nearly $15 trillion—an eye-watering 49% increase. Yet, it’s not just the ultra-wealthy who have benefited; the middle-class segment, spanning from the 50th to the 90th percentile, has experienced a notable uptick in wealth, with their net worths soaring by an impressive 50%.
In the past year alone, Americans collectively witnessed their total annual net worth soar to an unprecedented $156.2 trillion. Described by JPMorgan as a testament to Americans’ love affair with the stock market, households and nonprofits alike have quadrupled their investments in equities over the past four decades, reaching a near-record high of 41%.
Economists attribute this unprecedented boom in the stock market to a phenomenon known as the “wealth effect,” wherein surging stock prices bolster consumer confidence and stimulate spending.
“The wealth effect from surging stock prices is a powerful tailwind to consumer confidence, spending and broader economic growth,” stated Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics.However, the lion’s share of these windfalls is concentrated among the affluent elite, with the top 10% of Americans holding a staggering 87% of individually held stocks and mutual funds. Even more striking, the top 1% commands ownership of half of all individually held stocks, underscoring the lopsided distribution of wealth in the country.
While the affluent derive substantial benefits from the stock market surge, their spending patterns diverge markedly from those of average consumers. A concept known as the “marginal propensity to consume” elucidates this phenomenon, suggesting that the affluent are less inclined to spend a significant portion of their newfound wealth. Consequently, the boost in stock market wealth may not necessarily translate into commensurate increases in consumer spending. Despite the surge in stock prices, consumer confidence among high-income earners has displayed a secular decline since 2017—a stark contrast to the exuberance witnessed in financial markets.
As the stock market continues its inexorable ascent in 2024, it is widely anticipated that the wealth of the upper echelon has already eclipsed the record highs set at the close of 2023. However, beneath the veneer of prosperity lies a persistent concern regarding wealth inequality. The top 1% now lays claim to 30% of the nation’s wealth, while the top 10% holds a commanding share of 67%—painting a stark picture of economic polarization. Despite fleeting declines in inequality during the initial stages of the pandemic, the wealth chasm has regressed to pre-crisis levels, underscoring the enduring challenges associated with economic disparity in the United States.
