Wealth inequality in the U.S. is at historic highs, with the top 10% of earners controlling around 69% of total wealth, while the bottom 50% hold only about 2.5–3% [1][6][9].
The richest 1% alone have dramatically increased both their share of wealth and income, with the collective net worth of America’s 12 wealthiest individuals now exceeding $2 trillion, nearly doubling in just a few years[2].
Data shows that wealth inequality in the United States is deepening, with significant negative impacts on economic opportunity, health, social cohesion, and democratic participation[5][6][7]. These quantitative trends are considered by experts to be both a reflection and a driver of persistent structural barriers facing millions of Americans[2][3][5].