Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among America’s wealthiest — plus a few strategies to build that first-class portfolio

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For investors aiming to join the upper echelons of wealth, understanding how much money a household needs to accumulate to enter the highest income brackets is a crucial consideration.

According to data from Smart Asset, using 2021 IRS data for individual tax filers adjusted to June 2024, you would need to make at least $787,712 to be considered a top 1% earner in the U.S.

According to Federal Reserve Economic data, the average wealth of the top 0.9% is around $21.83 million, and that of the top 0.1% comes to an approximate net worth of $158.65 million.

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For those seeking a more attainable target, the net worth of the top 9% of households in the United States is approximately $4.76 million.

While most of that net worth is made up of the assets a household owns, it's also true that the extremely wealthy have their own profiles that others can learn from – at least for those hoping to be included in this group.

Here are practical steps you can take to build your portfolio like the top 1 percent, the crème de la crème of the industry.

Diversify like the 1%

Mostly, high-net-worth households have their wealth invested in stocks, real estate and other alternative investments.

Real estate

One of the common trends among wealthy households surveyed is that a large percentage own property.

According to a global survey by Knight Frank, involving over 600 wealth managers overseeing nearly $3 trillion in assets, primary and secondary homes comprise around 26% of the total net worth of North America's ultra-high net worth individuals.

So, combining real estate and those two other asset classes together, it's evident that investors who own real estate generally earn significantly higher returns over time.

Consumers may find their wealth increasing due in part by the forced savings aspect of real estate ownership itself. Since real estate is a relatively non-liquid asset with significant transaction costs, homeowners who consistently pay down their mortgage each month typically gain a substantial amount of equity, provided they don't take out a new mortgage.

However, if you're not already part of America's highest-earning class, buying investment property may seem unaffordable.

That's where Arrived comes into play.

allows you to get in on the hot real estate market at a lower cost than buying a property in full.

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Your choices aren't limited to homes. If you're a qualified investor looking to expand your portfolio and invest a larger sum with potential quarterly earnings, then commercial property might be your best bet.

Focuses on grocery-anchored retail property deals for accredited investors.

The Food & Nutrition Research & Publishing (FNRP) company has created partnerships with the country's largest essential-needs brands, such as Kroger, Walmart, and Whole Foods, and offers knowledge into the most desirable properties both available and not on the market.

Create or customize, all in one simple, user-friendly interface on their secure and private platform.

Here’s how to begin investing with just $10.

Invest in creative alternative assets

Ultra-high net-worth individuals and households typically have some form of alternative investment in their portfolio.

Fine art is one investment that very often does better than the stock market over long periods of time. As a matter of fact, according to a report in Fortune magazine, contemporary art outperformed the S&P 500 with a compound annual growth rate of 12.6% between 1995 and 2022.

It was once considered an investment reserved for the very wealthy, but that exclusivity no longer applies.

It's a platform worth considering.

Masterworks is a leading platform for retail and accredited investors to buy fractional shares of artwork by renowned artists such as Banksy and Basquiat.

Masterworks' team searches the art market for top-notch opportunities, purchases them at a discounted price, and then offers these shares to their members.

The Masterworks team has been working since 2019 to achieve annual returns, such as +17.6%, +17.8%, and +21.5%, on assets that have been held for a year or more.

You may not want to stick to a single asset class when you can choose from a wide range of private-market options.

The platform provides access to a variety of alternative investment options, including real estate, private debt, and venture capital, all in one convenient place.

Fundrise handles over $7 billion in real estate investments, serving a community of more than two million investors. The platform offers an easily accessible way for people to diversify their investments and potentially earn quarterly dividend payments.

To get started, simply share some information about yourself and your investing style, including how much risk you're comfortable taking on. Fundrise will then use this information to create a customized portfolio of private investment opportunities that suits your needs.

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It can be tricky to determine the right mix of investments based on your income level, since variations in net worth and personal financial objectives make standardized advice hard to tailor to individual needs. If you're looking for peace of mind, consulting a financial advisor can help you have confidence in the financial decisions you're making.

You can find the best advisor for your needs - both in terms of what they can do for your finances, and what they will charge to work with you.

It helps you find a financial advisor who can create a plan with you to achieve your financial goals. By matching you with a personalized list of the best options, you get a pre-screened financial advisor you can trust from their database of thousands.

to determine if they are the right fit for you.

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This article contains information only, and it's not meant to serve as advice. It's provided "as is" without any expressed or implied guarantee.