When you’re in your 20s, “upper class” can sound like something meant for tech founders, trust-fund kids, or people who somehow already own property and a Dyson.
But there is an actual number attached to that label — and it might surprise you.
If you’re curious where your net worth stacks up, here’s a look at the minimum wealth typically considered upper class for people in their 20s.
You’re Looking at a Net Worth of $714,000 to Roughly $2.1 Million
According to Andreas Jones, founder and editor at KindaFrugal, if you want a hard marker — a practical way to define “upper class” is by wealth percentiles.
“Using the benchmark cited by Brian Preston, the 75th to 90th percentile band runs from about $714,000 to roughly $2.1 million in net worth,” he said.
So the minimum floor for the upper class would start around $714,000.
“That sits far above what’s typical for people in their 20s.”
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Location Matters
Jones equally noted that location matters because your spending power and what “upper class” feels like in daily life can swing with housing, taxes, and wages.
In high-cost coastal cities, he said, you often need to be closer to the upper end of that range to have the same lifestyle security someone might have near the lower end in a lower-cost region.
“Remember, net worth is assets minus liabilities, so student loans, car loans, and credit cards reduce the number, and I treat them at full value because [the] quality of balance sheet strength in your 20s is as much about what you owe as what you own,” said Jones.
Culturally, Though, the Definition Is Shifting
“I’ve seen more young adults equate ‘upper class’ with financial independence cues like a resilient savings habit and time freedom, which is why I pair any net worth threshold with the consistency and durability of the behaviors that support it,” said Jones.
More and more, people in their 20s aren’t just measuring status by the size of a bank account — they’re looking at how much control they have over their lives.
Being “upper class” is often tied to things like being able to cover unexpected expenses without stress, having enough cushion to make intentional career choices, or enjoying the flexibility to travel, explore hobbies, or invest in personal growth. In other words, wealth is increasingly defined by stability and autonomy rather than just a number on a chart.
Beyond Net Worth
According to Jones, beyond net worth, the following financial habits: investing, stable saving and spending habits, flexible budgeting, and passive income streams indicate upper-class status in your 20s.
“The clearest signal is a stable, rising savings habit backed by an investing system you actually stick to.”
He said high earners can compress time by saving 40% to 50% of after-tax income, which can get someone in a top-paying field to $500,000 plus in three to four years.
And in a time when workers earning more than $500,000 annually are living paycheck to paycheck, avoiding lifestyle inflation has become more poignant than ever.
“But consistency matters at every income,” said Jones. “I like to see automated transfers into diversified, low-cost index funds, a flexible budget that adapts to irregular months, and a deliberate cap on lifestyle creep when income jumps.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s the Minimum Net Worth Considered To Be Upper Class in Your 20s
