While exact real-time figures vary, estimates suggest there are over 2.3 million people globally with a net worth exceeding $10 million (decamillionaires) as of recent data (late 2024/early 2025), with the United States holding the largest share, housing over 900,000 of these individuals. The number of people with $10M+ in wealth has grown significantly, with projections indicating it will continue to rise.
With over 905,000 individuals holding a net worth of $10 million or more, the United States continues to top the list as the world's primary wealth creator. Currently ranking 4th globally with 86,000 super-rich individuals, India's HNI population is among the fastest -growing in the world.
Generally, a liquid net worth of at least $1 million would make you a high net worth (HNW) individual. To reach a very high net worth status, you'd need a net worth of $5 million to $10 million. Individuals with a net worth of $30 million or more might qualify as ultra-high net worth.
58 million millionaires, making up 1.5% of the adult population. The United States is home to the highest number of millionaires, nearly 22 million, to be exact – 38% of the world's total.
Decamillionaire is a term used for someone with a net worth of over 10 million of a given currency, most often U.S. dollars, euros, or pounds sterling. The term decamillionaire is made up of two words, “deca” and “millionaire.” The word “deca” or “deka” is of Greek origin, meaning ten.
Costs and Lifestyle
As we noted up top, with $10 million in retirement savings, you very likely can generate more than enough income to live a very comfortable life. Even without investment growth, $10 million allows you to withdraw $100,000 per year for 100 years.
According to a survey from Charles Schwab, Americans believe an average net worth of $2.3 million is necessary to be considered rich. However, for most people, being rich is relative to their situation.
In US dollar terms, Australia counts 1.9 million millionaires and is ranked eighth in UBS' millionaire index. One in 10 people are a millionaire in USD terms, it said, alongside Hong Kong SAR, the US and the Netherlands.
In fact, reliable data suggests that households with $5 million or more in net worth represent a small fraction of the population. According to DQYDJ, in 2023, approximately 4.8 million American households had a net worth above $5 million, representing roughly 3.7% of all U.S. households.
Millionaires are more common than ever—about 1 in every 140 adults on Earth now has a net worth over $1 million. This massive shift is largely due to decades of economic growth, surging stock markets, and rising real estate values.
Moderate-Risk Portfolio (4% to 5% Annual Return)
This would generate $400,000 to $500,000 in annual income. Let's assume the 4% withdrawal rate commonly cited in retirement planning. A $10 million portfolio is likely to last 30 years or more, although actual longevity depends on market performance and spending habits.
Being considered "rich" in Australia varies, but generally, a net worth of $1 million or more in investable assets (excluding home/super) qualifies you as High-Net-Worth, while reaching the top 1% requires $7 million or more (for ages 41-64), with figures increasing significantly for the ultra-wealthy ($10M+ or $30M+), though public perception often sets a lower bar, sometimes around $1M total net worth or high income.
In fact, Americans now think it takes an average of $2.3 million to be considered wealthy, according to a Charles Schwab report. The financial services firm surveyed 2,200 adults between the ages of 21 to 75 from April 24 to May 23, so a variety of generations offered their input.
Over 900,000 people in the US have a net worth in excess of $10 million, Knight Frank said.
The World Wealth Report defines HNWIs as those who hold at least US$1 million in assets excluding primary residence and UHNWIs as those who hold at least US$30 million in assets excluding primary residence.
Per the Federal Reserve, the average age of a millionaire in the U.S. is 61. Americans in their 50s have an average net worth of around $1.3 million., according to Empower Personal Dashboard data in June 2025.
Nearly 6 percent have a net worth of over $10 million. Again, these people skew our average upward. The typical (median, or 50th percentile) millionaire household has a net worth of $1.6 million.
Yes, $5 million can work for retirement at 55 based on our own internal research outlined below—but only if you withdraw about $166,000-$184,000 starting in year one and stay flexible when markets dip. The real challenge isn't the math; it's managing healthcare costs before Medicare kicks in and making smart tax moves.
How Many Retirees Actually Have $4 Million Saved? The number of retirees with $4 million or more in savings is relatively small. Using data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), the Employee Benefits Research Institute estimates that only 4.7% have $1 million or more saved for retirement.
Big number. 760,000. That's how many HNW investors there are in Australia that collectively hold around $4 trillion in investable assets. 34,500 of these are categorised at UHNW (those with $10 million or more), and this segment experienced 19% annual growth, deepening the concentration of wealth at the top end.
Still commonly used is multimillionaire, which refers to individuals with net assets of 2 million or more of a currency. There are approximately 584,000 US$ multimillionaires who have net assets of $10M+ worldwide in 2017.
While exact real-time figures vary, recent analyses suggest hundreds of thousands of Australians hold over $1 million in superannuation, though it's a minority, with estimates from around 2021 pointing to over 400,000 people, a number that has grown significantly due to investment returns, though many still don't reach this milestone. About 2.5% of the population held >$1 million in super as of mid-2021 (around 417,000 people), with forecasts indicating a larger number, while projections suggest over 10% of women and 15% of men retiring by 2060 could reach this goal, and recent studies highlight that a large majority (around 94%) of retirees don't hit $1 million.
Elon Musk is not yet a trillionaire but is widely considered the closest person to becoming the world's first, with recent estimates placing his net worth over $700 billion, driven by massive gains in Tesla and SpaceX, especially after a court reinstated a huge stock option plan. His wealth is projected to reach $1 trillion soon, potentially through a future SpaceX IPO or fulfilling Tesla's ambitious performance targets linked to his massive pay package, with some analysts forecasting the milestone by 2027.
Adding some of these habits into your daily routine might help you get on track to becoming an everyday millionaire yourself!