That's according to data collected in 2022 and published in 2023 by the Federal Reserve. This is the most recent data available.
Unsurprisingly, older Americans tend to have higher net worths -- also known simply as "wealth" -- than younger Americans. Those with a college degree also have significantly higher net worths than those without one.
Net worth is also heavily stratified by race. The average net worth of white Americans is roughly six times higher than the median net worth of Black Americans and nearly five times higher than that of Hispanic Americans.
Net worth is the value of assets you control minus your liabilities. The former includes anything that can be turned into cash, such as your house, other real estate, car, investments, and bank accounts. The latter includes outstanding obligations, such as loans, mortgages, and credit card debt.
Understanding your wealth and how it compares to the average net worth can provide a clearer picture of your financial well-being and identify areas that may benefit from improvement. It can also be a big help when you're figuring out how much money you need to retire.
Average net worth by age
In 2022, the median net worth of Americans younger than 35 was $39,040, while the median net worth of Americans aged 65 to 74 was $410,000.
Americans at retirement age had a median wealth 10.5 times that of those in the younger-than-35 age group.
The average American net worth picks up after age 35. Americans between 35 and 44 years old had a median net worth of $135,300, three-and-a-half times more than those younger than 35.
The gap in net worth between Americans in their late 40s and early 50s and those in their late 50s and early 60s is similar in size.
Americans aged 45 to 54 had a median net worth of $246,700, and Americans aged 55 to 64 had a median net worth of $364,270.
Americans aged 65 to 74 had the highest median net worth at $410,000. Net worth drops off for Americans 75 and older, whose median net worth was $334,700 as they dip into retirement savings.