Wealthiest U.S. Households and Seniors Top Financial Rankings

WHO:

CBS News - 18 million U.S. households headed by someone 75 or older.

CBS News - Families headed by someone over 75 account for about 13.4% of the nation's families.

CBS News - Families led by people under 35 are the largest age group, accounting for about one in five households.

WHAT:

CBS News - The median net worth of households headed by someone 75 or older is $504,000 in 2025.

CBS News - Households headed by 65- to 74-year-olds saw their wealth increase by 37% between 2022 and 2025.

CBS News - The median annual income for households headed by someone 75 or older rose 24% since 2022 to $67,000.

CBS News - The median net worth of the richest one-tenth of American families soared 31% to $3.6 million from 2022 to 2025.

CBS News - About 20% of U.S. households were behind on their debt repayments in 2025, a 7-percentage-point increase since 2022.

CBS News - About one in 12 families is spending roughly 40% or more of their incomes on repaying debt, the highest share in at least 12 years.

CBS News - Nearly 10% of Americans aged 65 and older lived below the poverty line in 2025, up from roughly 9% a decade ago.

CBS News - Typical households headed by someone younger than 35 saw their median net worth plunge 23% between 2022 and 2025, to $33,000.

WHERE:

CBS News - United States.

WHEN:

CBS News - The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances was conducted in 2025.

CBS News - The S&P 500 gained about 78% between the end of 2022 and 2025.

CBS News - The number of 401(k) plan accounts managed by Fidelity Investments with at least $1 million surged to a record 769,000 in the second quarter.

WHY:

CBS News - The oldest Americans likely benefited from growth in their retirement assets.

CBS News - The increase in households behind on debt repayments may reflect the impact of years of above-normal inflation since the pandemic.

HOW:

CBS News - The report assesses U.S. families' financial health, measuring wealth, income, and liabilities such as credit card debt and student loans, with all figures adjusted for inflation.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 22:02 UTC)

In the United States, about 18 million households are led by someone aged 75 or older, making up approximately 13.4% of all families, while those headed by individuals under 35 represent one in five households. The median net worth for these older households reached $504,000 in 2025, and their median annual income increased by 24% since 2022 to $67,000, contrasting sharply with a 23% decline in net worth for younger households during the same period. However, nearly 10% of Americans aged 65 and older lived below the poverty line in 2025, highlighting the financial challenges many face, especially as about 20% of U.S. households struggled with debt repayments.