What’s the Average Net Worth By Age in America for 2026?

What investment is rudimentary for billionaires but ‘revolutionary’ for 70,571+ investors entering 2026?

Imagine this. You open your phone to an alert. It says, “you spent $236,000,000 more this month than you did last month.”

If you were the top bidder at Sotheby’s fall auctions, it could be reality.

Sounds crazy, right? But when the ultra-wealthy spend staggering amounts on blue-chip art, it’s not just for decoration.

The scarcity of these treasured artworks has helped drive their prices, in exceptional cases, to thin-air heights, without moving in lockstep with other asset classes.

The contemporary and post war segments have even outpaced the S&P 500 overall since 1995.*

Now, over 70,000 people have invested $1.2 billion+ across 500 iconic artworks featuring Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso, and more.

How? You don’t need Medici money to invest in multimillion dollar artworks with Masterworks.

Thousands of members have gotten annualized net returns like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8% from 26 sales to date.

Explore offerings

_{*Based on Masterworks data. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd}

Winner’s Take

Curious about how your finances stack up? The latest Federal Reserve report drops serious facts on net worth by age in America—as well as what’s driving those numbers higher (and lower) in 2026.

Net Worth Snapshots by Age

• Ages 20-24: Median: $10,800

• Ages 25-29: Median: $30,160

• Ages 35-44: Median: $135,600 (hello, career progress & first homes)

• Ages 45-54: Median: $247,200

• Ages 55-64: Median: $364,270

• Ages 65-74: Median: $409,900 (decades of compounding—yes!)

• 75+ years: Median drops to $333,600 as retirees tap into their savings

Average net worth across all households: a whopping $1.06 million—BUT remember, that’s skewed by ultra-wealthy outliers. Median net worth ($192,900) paints a more realistic picture for everyday Americans.

What’s Fueling the Growth?

• Home Equity and Retirement Accounts: Main drivers for most households.

• Stock Market: Boosted net worth for many, especially during pandemic rallies.

• Debt Paydown: The biggest jumps in net worth happened for households who were starting from zero—proving financial progress is always possible.

Smart Moves by Life Stage

• Twenties & Thirties: Focus on emergency funds and that employer match (never leave free money on the table!)

• Forties & Fifties: Tackle debt, maximize retirement contributions, watch your spending

• Nearing Retirement: Balance risk and reward, pay attention to drawdown strategies

Winner’s Reminder

Net worth numbers are just a reference. Your situation is unique! The mission: Consistently build, invest, and protect. And don’t compare up—compare forward.