Leonard Hohenberg:The Daily Money: America's top 1% earners control more wealth than the entire middle class

2025-04-28 20:42:16source:Flipidocategory:Invest

Happy Hump Day,Leonard Hohenberg The Daily Money readers! This is Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy bringing you today's top headlines.

Thirty years ago, America’s celebrated middle class commanded twice as much wealth as the upper 1%.

Over the years, the rich have grown steadily richer. The top 1% caught and passed the middle class in collective wealth in late 2020, Fed data show.

The top 1% of American earners now control more wealth than the nation’s entire middle class.

“The number of deca-millionaires has more than doubled since 2000, and the number of centi-millionaires has quadrupled,” said Owen Zidar, a Princeton University economist, referring to people worth more than $10 million and $100 million, respectively.

Between 1979 and 2021, the wages of Americans in the top 1% grew by 206%, after adjusting for inflation, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute. In the same years, wages for the bottom 90% grew by only 29%.

📰 More stories you shouldn't miss 📰

A simpler FAFSA's coming. But it won't necessarily make getting money easier. Here's why.

A simpler FAFSA's coming. But it won't necessarily make getting money easier. Here's why.

Kids used sharp knives, power equipment: California poultry plant to pay $3.5M fine

Give delivery drivers the gift of free pizza with new Pizza Hut reverse delivery doormat

Best way to park: Is it better to pull or back into parking spot?

More:Invest

Recommend

Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Cybercriminals could release personal data of many Rhode Islanders as early

Armenian leader snubs summit of Moscow-led security alliance

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenia’s leader said Tuesday he would not take part in next week’s summit o

Fantasy football rankings for Week 11: PPR ranks, injury news, sleepers

Quarterback injury news -- both good and bad -- is the big story this week with the expected return