Wealth Inequality in America

The combined wealth of Americans is roughly 54 trillion dollars. However, there has been a trend over recent decades, more and more of that wealth has gone to the hands of the top 1% of wealthiest Americans. In fact, as shown in the graph on the left, income inequality in the United States is at an all time high, even higher than it was in the Roaring 20s, a decade known for its vast economic distance between the rich and poor.    

IDEAL

The ideal distribution of wealth as stated by 92% of Americans surveyed appears above. This distribution is ideal because it provides strong incentive for the lower classes to strive for success because the rich are 10-20 times better off than the poorest Americans. However, the poor remain a comfortable distance above the poverty line so they can still enjoy life.  

Actual

Unfortunately, the ideal income distribution is a far cry from the actual distribution of wealth as shown above. The poor cannot even be seen, they fall far below the poverty line and the middle class barely differ from the poor. Even the rich are worse than the ideal distribution. The only ones who turn out better are America's super rich, the top 10%. They're so rich they're off the charts! 

All of the lower and middle classes combined only hold 7% of the total wealth in the United States while the top 1% of America holds 40% of the nation's entire wealth. In other words, America's top 3 million people have more more money than the lowest 252 million Americans combined; and yes, you most likely fall in the category of lowest 252 million Americans. 

Interesting Fact:

The average worker has to work over a month to make what the average CEO makes in one hour.