economy
Stocks drive record share of American wealth
An AI-driven rally is enriching Americans more than usual and exposing them to potentially painful losses from a reversal.
TL;DR
- A record 33% of U.S. household wealth was in stocks at the end of 2025.
- This percentage exceeds previous highs seen during the meme stock mania of 2021 and the dot-com peak in 2000.
- Household portfolios saw an 18% increase in value between late 2024 and 2025, reaching $67.77 trillion.
- The richest 10% of American households owned about 87% of total household stock market wealth.
- This uneven distribution contributes to a K-shaped economy, where GDP growth relies on wealthy spending, while 90% of the population does not benefit from the market boom.