Bloomberg Surveillance · Saturday, September 26, 2026
Barry Ritholtz, in his book 'The Everywhere Millionaire,' suggests that most wealthy Americans generate their wealth not from being tech founders or CEOs, but from owning and running regular businesses like dental practices or auto dealerships. These 'ordinary people' often achieve top-tier net worth through entrepreneurial ventures rather than employment at public companies.
“The average wealthy person in America, somewhere around the top 4 or 5%, Most of them don't work for public companies. Most of them aren't tech founders. They tend to be ordinary people running regular businesses that they have ownership of, own, don't earn.”
“And things like dental practices, HVAC, auto dealers, things that you see in your everyday life that you encounter that you probably don't realize are putting these folks in the top 4%, which is about $25 million net worth, or somewhere around the top 10%, which is about $5 million liquid net worth.”