In the United States, the richest 1% of households have as much wealth as the bottom 90% of households combined.
NOT BSTOTAL BS
MOSTLY BS — Verdict: Mostly False
Verified by Lenz ·
The Short Version
The evidence shows extreme near-parity, not actual parity. Recent Federal Reserve data indicate the richest 1% own slightly less wealth than the bottom 90% combined, so the claim overstates the concentration. A more accurate version would say the top 1% hold nearly as much wealth as the bottom 90%, not the same amount.
Caveats
The claim uses exact language—“as much wealth as”—but the best recent official estimates show the bottom 90% still holds a somewhat larger share.
Some supportive articles rely on older studies or different wealth-measurement methods, which can produce more dramatic comparisons than the current Federal Reserve series.
The claim lacks a time qualifier; this comparison shifts over time, and the latest official figures are the most relevant.