Australians collected a higher median wealth per adult than anywhere else in the world at $US273,900 ($A390,870) – nearly three times the median wealth of $US93,270 ($A133,100) in the US. Australia was followed on the rich list by Belgium and New Zealand, with the US trailing behind at number 18.
The amount of money it takes to make it into the top 1 per cent of the wealthiest Australians has doubled to $8.25 million since 2021, according to a new report. The increase means the amount of money you need to be part of Australia's top echelon of wealth ($US5.
But the number might surprise you. To be considered in Australia's highest percentage of wealth, you must have a total net worth of a staggering US$5.5 million (A$8.26 million).
What is the average annual income range for the Australian middle class? The average annual income range for the Australian middle class is between AUD 46,000 and AUD 140,000.
It takes $2.2 million to be considered wealthy
The data also demonstrated that the 48% of Americans who feel wealthy today have an average net worth of $560,000, compared to the $2.2 million they say it takes to be considered wealthy.
While the income of the top 1% varies, Forbes reported in 2022 that the bracket's minimum net worth is much higher — a cool $11.1 million.
So if you're on $100k or more, congratulations, you're in the top 20% of Aussie income earners. If not, don't worry, you're in the good company of 80% of Aussies.
While 7 figures in superannuation may sound great, the reality is most people heading into retirement won't have anywhere near that amount. According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA), Australians aged between 60-64 have a median balance of $178,808 for men, and $137,051 for women1.
Average Australian Salaries in 2023
A taxable income that was $131,501 or higher was within the top 10% of earners in Australia last year. About 5% of taxpayers had incomes above $180,000. Someone who earned more than $253,066 was in the top 1%.
Research has found that couples aged between 50 and 70 years have the highest median net worth (nearly $900,000), while singles aged between 30 and 40 years have the lowest median net worth ($50,000).
Around 1,456,336 households in America have $10 million or more in net worth. That's 1.13% of American households.
There aren't many of them, just 110,613 — 82,258 men and 28,355 women. Only 39,209 have taxable incomes of more than $500,000, and of these only 14,467 have taxable incomes of more than $1 million.
Being rich currently means having a net worth of about $2.2 million. However, this number fluctuates over time, and you can measure wealth according to your financial priorities. As a result, healthy financial habits, like spending less than you make, are critical to becoming wealthy, no matter your definition.
Dated ways of describing someone worth n millions are "n-fold millionaire" and "millionaire n times over". Still commonly used is multimillionaire, which refers to individuals with net assets of 2 million or more of a currency.
According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia's Retirement Standard, to have a 'comfortable' retirement, a couple who own their own home will need an income of about $70,500. A single person will need an annual income of more than $50,000.
ASFA estimates people who want a comfortable retirement need $640,000 for a couple, and $545,000 for a single person when they leave work, assuming they also receive a partial age pension from the federal government. For people who are happy to have a modest lifestyle, this figure is $70,000.
So, how much does one need to retire in comfort? If you're single, you'll need more than $500,000, assuming you own your own home, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Retirement Standard. That figure is worryingly higher than the average super balance.
Four in five Australians earn less than $100,000 with new tax figures revealing the federal budget is increasingly reliant on the nation's best-paid 1 per cent to cover the cost of growing services and infrastructure.
How much income tax do I pay if I make $100,000? If your taxable income is $100,000 a year as an Australian resident for tax purposes, your income tax will be $22,767. Your average tax rate is 22.77% and your marginal tax rate is 32.5%.
The data shows Australia has 12,706 taxpayers earning more than $1m, the vast majority of whom have paid some sort of tax on their taxable income.
The United States has 325 million people—in 160 million households, as viewed by the Internal Revenue Service. That means 1.6 million households fall into the 1 percent category.
Top 10% income
The average earnings of those in the top 10% were roughly $173,000 in 2020, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Landing in the top 10% is a fairly attainable goal for upwardly mobile Americans.
Someone is considered a millionaire when their net worth, or their assets minus their liabilities, totals $1 million or more.