By and large, Americans believe their country is on the wrong track, according to recent polls. Even worse, the vast majority believe the American dream is dead, or at least clinging to life support.
And yet, the numbers do not lie: The world’s wealthiest people live in the U.S., despite the fact that the country has far fewer citizens than countries such as India and China.
Of course, plenty of people in the U.S. struggle mightily just to put dinner on the table. But here are some numbers — courtesy of Henley & Partners’ latest annual USA Wealth Report — that reveal why America still is the best place to get rich. Numbers are current as of March 29.
Wealth per capita: $201,500
The U.S. remains a land of plenty, with wealth per capita growing to nearly a quarter-million dollars.
That places the U.S. sixth in the world, which is an impressive feat when you consider that this number represents “per capita” (per person) wealth, and the countries ahead of the U.S. on this list all have populations that are just a fraction of the size of the U.S.
Growth in the number of millionaires: 62%
From 2013 to 2023, the number of millionaires in the U.S. grew by 62%, putting America at No. 11 among all nations in that category.
As Mehdi Kadiri, managing partner and head of North America at Henley & Partners, writes:
“The USA remains the undisputed leader in private wealth creation and accumulation. It accounts for 32% of global liquid investable wealth — a colossal USD 67 trillion.”
For comparison, America’s $67 trillion in investable wealth is well ahead of China’s total of $27 trillion. That is true despite the fact that the U.S. is home to 340 million people, and China is home to 1.4 billion.
Number of millionaires: 5.5 million
The U.S. is home to more than one-third — 37% — of the world’s millionaires, defined by Henley & Partners as those who hold more than $1 million in liquid investable assets.
The U.S. ranks first in this category.
It is worth noting that other estimates have put the total number of millionaires in the U.S. at a much higher number — 20 million or more.
Number of centimillionaires: 9,850
Achieving a million-dollar status is no small feat. But you have really arrived if you pile up 100 times that amount.
Almost 10,000 centimillionaires — people with at least $100 million in liquid investable assets — live in the U.S.
The U.S. ranks first in this category.
Number of billionaires: 788
Many of the world’s best and brightest people continue to make the U.S. a destination. Some of these folks start their own companies in America and become wildly successful, even achieving billionaire status. As Kadiri writes:
“The USA remains a top draw for wealthy tech entrepreneurs and engineers, especially from Asia, Europe, and the UK. Major hubs such as Silicon Valley and Austin continue to attract human capital critical for innovation and business growth.”
The U.S. ranks first in this category.
If you dream of achieving million-dollar status — or beyond — check out “The 10 Commandments of Wealth and Happiness.”
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