What percentage of the nation's wealth is owned by the wealthiest 10% of Americans?

• A. 60%
• B. 77%
• C. 50%
• D. 25%

Answer: (B)

Wealth is highly concentrated in the United States, with the top portion of households holding a large share of all assets. The figure around 77% means that roughly seven out of ten and more of the nation’s wealth sits with the wealthiest tenth of the population, while the bottom 90% share the remaining about 23%. This level of concentration shows why the other numbers don’t fit: 60% would understate how dominant the top group is, 50% would imply a perfectly even split, and 25% would say the bottom 90% hold most of the wealth, which isn’t the case. This distribution arises from long-standing advantages in savings, investments, and inherited wealth, shaping how assets accumulate over time and persist across generations.