Do millionaires carry debt?
Rich people borrow money just like lower-income people do, but they borrow in different ways by using debt as a tool to build wealth. They also borrow for different reasons, including earning rewards on credit cards that end up paying back more than they pay in.
One of the biggest myths out there is that average millionaires see debt as a tool. Not true. If they want something they can't afford, they save and pay cash for it later. Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary.
Understanding Good and Bad Debt
While debt is often viewed as a liability, many of the world's wealthiest individuals leverage debt to amplify their wealth. Good debt refers to money borrowed to purchase an asset that is expected to create greater income than the debt servicing cost.
Millionaires typically balance both paying off debt and investing, but with a strategic approach. Their decision often depends on the interest rate of the debt versus the expected return on investments.
Absolutely, it is common for millionaires and billionaires to go broke – but let's get one thing straight. When these high-rollers crash, it's not because money has limits; it's because their discipline does. Money is a game, one with few rules but many players.
Millionaires prioritize avoiding consumer debt, making wise financial decisions, and aligning spending with long-term goals.
| Generation | Average total debt (2023) | Average total debt (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z (18-26) | $29,820 | $25,851 |
| Millenial (27-42) | $125,047 | $115,784 |
| Gen X (43-57) | $157,556 | $154,658 |
| Baby Boomer (58-77) | $94,880 | $96,087 |
Oral surgeons have the highest average amount of student loan debt, according to a 2023 report from personal banking and finance company SoFi. SoFi identified the 16 professional specialties with the highest average student loan debt, with 14 of the careers being in healthcare.
I would say most rich people use credit, but they use it strategically. If you can pay for a car, a house, a major appliance, or a college education in cash, there's no need to borrow the money. That part is not as big a deal. Credit can be useful in various other ways.
The key features of good debt are that it is used to acquire income-producing assets and has a reasonable cost structure compared to the expected returns. If this is the case, that is how debt leads to greater wealth creation.
What is a typical millionaire?
Meet the typical millionaire: They're over 55, have a house worth nearly 7 figures, and are probably moving to Scottsdale. America's millionaires are older, college-educated, and white. They have some pretty valuable houses and stock holdings.
$1 million
The term “millionaire” may have lost some of its luster, but it remains a benchmark of American wealth. “There's no question that $1 million is a magic number,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.
Millionaires also have zero-balance accounts with private banks. They leave their money in cash and cash equivalents and they write checks on their zero-balance account. At the end of the business day, the private bank, as custodian of their various accounts, sells off enough liquid assets to settle up for that day.
90% Of Millionaires Are Made In Real Estate - 100% Of Billionaires Are Made HERE. Private Equity Firm Salary. Private Equity Career Path. Private Equity Investments.
In fact, most Americans are unlikely to ever become a millionaire. Estimates vary, but they range from about 12 million to 24 million millionaires in America. While that sounds like a lot, even the upper limit of that range is less than 10% of the approximately 332 million people in the U.S.
There are about 336 million people in the U.S. With 24.5 million of them being millionaires, the odds that someone in the U.S. will end up a millionaire come in at around 7.29%.
The same survey found 70% percent of Americans with a net worth over $1 million have two or more credit cards, compared to 41% of Americans with a net worth under $1 million.
Secret millionaires fit few if any of the cultural stereotypes of “the wealthy.” They are secretaries, teachers, janitors and librarians. They don't talk about money and they build their wealth in private. They are everyday, unassuming people with exceptional focus and discipline.
This probably won't come as a big surprise, but the bulk of millionaires are very reluctant to take on debt. In fact, 73% of millionaires surveyed in the US have never carried a credit card balance,1 while 56% of active credit card accounts in the United States currently have a balance.
How Many Americans Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck? A 2023 survey conducted by Payroll.org highlighted that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, a 6% increase from the previous year. In other words, more than three-quarters of Americans struggle to save or invest after paying for their monthly expenses.
Is $5000 in credit card debt a lot?
$5,000 in credit card debt can be quite costly in the long run. That's especially the case if you only make minimum payments each month. However, you don't have to accept decades of credit card debt.
“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O'Leary has said the ideal age to be debt-free is 45, especially if you want to retire by age 60. Being debt-free — including paying off your mortgage — by your mid-40s puts you on the early path toward success, O'Leary argued.
| Country/Region | Per capita US dollars | External debt US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 98,094 | 32.9 trillion |
| United Kingdom | 46754 | 3.24 trillion |
| Japan | 34,832 | 4.34 trillion |
| Netherlands | 215,569 | 3.79 trillion |
At the top is Japan, whose national debt has remained above 100% of its GDP for two decades, reaching 255% in 2023.
Jerome Kerviel, The Most Indebted Person In The World, Owes $6.3 Billion To Former Employer, Societe Generale. In a hyper-competitive world where everyone strives to be the biggest, boldest and most famous, no one covets Jerome Kerviel record-breaking achievement. He is the most indebted person in the world.
