Do rich people live off debt?
Wealthy people aren't afraid of borrowing. But they typically don't borrow money to live beyond their means or because they failed to save for emergencies or make a plan to cover expenses. Instead, rich people tend to use debt as a tool to help them build more wealth.
Some examples include: Business Loans: Debt taken to expand a business by purchasing equipment, real estate, hiring more staff, etc. The expanded operations generate additional income that can cover the loan payments. Mortgages: Borrowed money used to purchase real estate that will generate rental income.
Many wealthy individuals do use debt strategically to build wealth, often through investments like real estate or business ventures.
Poor budget choices and failure to follow basic financial principles can send even the richest people with a high net worth into debt. Millionaires have more money than most of us can imagine. To put into perspective $1 million equates to 588 months, or 49 years, of the average rent price in America.
Millionaires usually avoid the following: High-interest debt: Millionaires typically steer clear of high-interest consumer debt, like credit card debt, that offers no return or tax benefits. Neglect diversification: They don't put all their eggs in one basket but diversify investments to mitigate risks.
However, wealthy people may also have a bad credit score or no credit because they don't borrow money. If you can afford to buy your house or car in cash and only use a debit card, you won't build up a credit history. The fact is, a poor credit history doesn't really matter if you don't need to borrow money.
They stay away from debt.
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.
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.
Yes, 97% of people with debt say they would be happier without it. People with debt are more likely to suffer depression or anxiety.
It might appear impossible, but many consumers succeed in living their entire lives without any debt. People of a variety of ages and income levels have made this choice. It's not an easy feat, but if it's something you truly want, don't let naysayers talk you out of it.
Do most millionaires go broke?
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.
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 |
White people, on average, are more likely to have mortgage debt than Black people, but Black people are more likely to have credit card debt (Dettling et al., 2017).
Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve. That figure factors in every type of debt, from credit card balances and student loans to mortgages, car loans and more. The exact definition of debt free can vary, though, depending on whom you ask.
Many self-made millionaires have money coming in from several places, including their salaries, dividends from investments, income from rental properties and investments they have made in other business enterprises, to name a few examples. If one income stream slows down, there's another that can take its place.
Dave Ramsey on X: "Top 5 Careers of Millionaires: 1. Engineer 2. Accountant (CPA) 3. Teacher 4.
- Very Poor: 300-499.
- Poor: 500-600.
- Fair: 601-660.
- Good: 661-780.
- Excellent: 781-850.
The average credit score in the US is a 718 FICO score and 701 VantageScore. Gen Z (18-25) has the lowest average credit score at 680, and the Silent Generation (77+) has the highest at 760. Minnesota has the highest average credit score at 742, while Mississippi has the lowest average at 680.
And even for people who may not be able to leverage a Dali painting hanging in their foyers, debt can be a useful tool to keep their wealth engines running if it comes cheaply enough relative to other opportunities, keeps their assets working for them and, above all, if the risks are understood and tolerable.
Banks create new money when people go into debt
When you take out a loan, new money is created. As people borrow more, more new money comes into the economy. All the extra spending this newly created money funds gives people the impression the economy is doing well, which encourages them to borrow even more.
Why do billionaires use credit cards?
Using a credit card for all your spending helps rich people track their expenses more efficiently. “Especially as you have a lot of transactions, you can streamline everything to one or two accounts and make a single payment to pay off the cards,” says Farrington.
The average IQ of self-made deca-millionaires (over $10M net worth) is 118. The average IQ of self-made* billionaires is 133. The average IQ of self-made deca-billionaires (over $10B net worth) is 151. Of note, average incomes correlate well with IQ, however there is a much lower correlation between IQ and net wealth.
Men have 20% more personal loan debt than women. Men have 16.3% more auto loan debt than women. Men have 9.7% more mortgage debt than women. Women have 2.7% more student loan debt than men.
Research from financial services company Northwestern Mutual found that excluding mortgages, the average personal debt per individual sat at $21,800 in 2023, significantly lower than the $29,800 recorded in 2019.
Age Group | Median Credit Card Debt | Percentage Who Carry Debt |
---|---|---|
35-44 | $2,600 | 51% |
45-54 | $3,200 | 52% |
55-64 | $3,000 | 47% |
65-74 | $2,900 | 41% |
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