Here are the top 5 facts about the 1% of our nation from Yahoo! Finance.
- Top 1% owns 40% of the nation’s wealth. 25 years ago, the top 1% owned 33%. The bottom 80% today owns 7%.
- Top 1% take home 24% of U.S. income. In 1976, the 1% took home 9%.
- Top 1% own half of the country’s stocks, bonds and mutual funds: The bottom 50% of Americans own only 0.5% of these investments.
- Top 1% of Americans have only 5% of the U.S. personal debt. The bottom 90% have 73% of total U.S. debt.
- Top 1% take in more of U.S. income than at any other time period since the 1920’s.
What are your thoughts on this?
Here’s what Kevin on the comments of the article said:
“It doesn’t bother me so much that 1% are so rich, rather that 50% need to struggle so much.
If we as a nation could enable the working class to have a decent standard of living, making life affordable with the income provided from a decent job, I doubt we’d be as concerned with how much the high enders had.”
And on the other end, here’s what Sleeper Doc said:
“No comments on what it takes to be in the top 1%??? In my case…4 years undergraduate school, 3 years graduate school, 4 years medical school, 3 years residency. My parents were not rich….paid for by joining military. At age 57 I still work 55-70 hours per week. I enjoy what I do (anesthesiologist) so I am willing to make the sacrifice. If you didn’t invest as much time or money as I did in making yourself valuable….that may be part of the difference.”
Anonymous says
Many people in this country have worked very very hard and are reaping their benefits. I'm not gonna apologize for my blessings.We are responsible for our own choices. You reap what you sew.
Mommy Saves ALOT!!! says
This is a touchy subject for me. I really am on both sides of the fence.
Jane says
We are heading towards a two-class system once again; the rich and the poor. That being said however, I am nowhere near the top 1% yet I am richer than 90% of the world's population. Even the poorest American/Canadian is richer than most of the world's population. It depends on your perspective – rich/poor – my Michael didn't have two cents to rub together when we first met yet I would consider him one of the richest people I know. Again…perspective.
Rafiki says
This is a touchy subject.For me I am not concerned about the super rich. I am just amazed by them and wonder what they do with so much money. I also like to read any advice most of them give because they have great advice and philosophies.I am more concerned with the stats linked to the poor. I think that is way too low. I expect it to be on the low end but not that bad. I think this has to change a bit.Like Jane said it is based on perspective and there is something to learn from everyone, no matter their status.
Michelle P says
I agree with everyone. This is a touchy subject.
rivulet says
There's an overwhelming entitlement mentality in the world today. ALOT of people want to have everything they need and desire but they don't want to work for it. Just look at the massive amount of debt we've incurred. That alone just goes to show that we think we deserve more than we've worked for. I think the (majority of) the top %1 have worked INCREDIBLY hard for what they have. I also think (and know many individuals personally) alot of the lower income don't want to work. The more people who aren't working the bigger the impoverished group will become and the farther the divide will get.
Jeff says
My thoughts are that 53% of American's pay taxes. Nobody in the 99% ever wrote me a Pay check. Most of the 1% worked their butts off get where they are today. Eighty percent of millionaires are first generation millionaires, meaning they didn't inherite it. I am punishing those who earn their money illegally. I grew up in a disfuntional family but the few things my parents taught me was life isn't fair, not everybody wins, and nothing in this world is free.
Ally says
Hi, I realize this reply is kind of late – ha – just discovered this awesome blog and perusing through the archives. Michelle, would be curious as to how the present day (2016) you would write this blog post considering you are the top 1% now. And as I said before, I greatly admire your hard work and dedication to get there.
P.S. One interesting statistic to add is what percentage of the nation’s taxes is paid by the top 1%. Based on 2014 data, the top 1% pay over half of the nation’s taxes. Top 5% pay 84% of total taxes. Whereas the bottom 5% not only don’t pay any taxes at all, but receive federal assistance.
Amanda says
I’m perusing archives also and would be very interested for your post on this in today’s world.