The net worth needed to be in the top 10% of U.S. households has grown in recent years due to rising values of assets like homes and stocks. According to Visa, the national threshold is at least $1.8 million, with regional differences: $2 million in the West, $1.9 million in the Northeast, $1.8 million in the South, and $1.7 million in the Midwest. About 12.2 million U.S. households are currently in this top 10% of wealth. In 2024 alone, Visa reported that 1,000 new millionaires were created every day, highlighting a trend of increasing affluence across the country. This rise in asset prices has changed what it means to be affluent. Visa defines being in the top 10% not by a fixed dollar amount but by entering that wealth bracket. The threshold has climbed significantly in recent years. Net worth is calculated by adding up all your assets—like homes, cars, retirement accounts, and investments—and subtracting your debts, which include things like mortgages, student loans, auto loans, and credit card balances. The average U.S. household has a net worth of about $660,000, according to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2026. The report also found that households in the top 10% tend to spend more on discretionary items such as clothing, airline travel, and lodging compared to other households. Building net worth starts with creating a budget to understand your income and expenses. The goal is to ensure that more money is coming in than going out each month. If more is being spent than earned, areas like dining out or subscription services can be cut. Once there is extra money each month, it should be saved in an emergency fund—ideally enough to cover three to six months of expenses. With that fund in place, focus on paying down high-interest debt or smaller balances first. Regular contributions to retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs are also important, especially if your employer offers a match. Any extra money should be invested to help cover major expenses like a home or college tuition. Financial services firm Fidelity notes that people of all income levels can build positive net worth by saving, paying off debt, and investing wisely.