BiggerPockets Money Podcast

How the Top 1% Invest (and How Do YOU Compare?)

Mar 11, 2025

Discover the secrets of the top 1% and their surprising investment strategies! The wealthy primarily invest in accessible assets, not just high-end real estate. Learn how their financial habits can help you level up your own portfolio. The show discusses the myths surrounding home equity and emphasizes the power of corporate equities. With insights on navigating retirement plans and recognizing the role of entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with valuable tips to boost your wealth.

44:51

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Quick takeaways

The top 1% of Americans primarily invests in corporate equities and mutual funds, with surprisingly less emphasis on real estate than expected.

Disciplined spending and smart long-term investments are crucial strategies that contribute significantly to wealth accumulation among high-net-worth individuals.

Deep dives

Investing Strategies of the Ultra-Wealthy

The ultra-wealthy have distinctive investment strategies that, while seemingly inaccessible, contain principles that anyone can implement. Typically, they prioritize diversified portfolios that include corporate equities, mutual fund shares, private businesses, and real estate, though the latter is surprisingly less dominant than many assume. For example, the top 1% holds around 44% of their wealth in publicly traded stocks, with only 16% in real estate. This indicates that investing in stock markets and corporate entities is a critical avenue towards wealth accumulation, rather than reliance solely on real estate investments.

Intro

2min

Wealth Ideals and Realities

6min

Examining Wealth Distribution Among the Top 1%

5min

Wealth Disparities and Investment Strategies

12min

Navigating Home Equity and Investment Myths

7min

Pension Plans and Wealth Dynamics

12min

How do the top 1% of Americans invest their money, and how do your investments compare? We’re breaking down the data, showing what the wealthiest Americans are invested in and how to copy their 1% portfolio so you can invest like the ultra-wealthy. To be in the top 1% of Americans, you must have at least eight figures. And while that’s a Fat FIRE number, most of us don’t need tens of millions to retire early. But copying some of the tactics of the top 1% could get you there faster.

One thing slingshots average Americans to the top 1%, and even the top 0.1%, but you don’t have to bank on this huge bet to get there. Surprisingly, the top 1% invests in assets that YOU already have access to, not elite-only investment opportunities or massive business deals. They’re invested in FAR more passive assets than you’d think, so you don’t HAVE to build a real estate portfolio to get there.

What gives you the best chance of hitting the top 1% in wealth? Maybe you don’t want to go that far—how do you get to the top 10%? Scott and Mindy share a few strategies that could skyrocket your net worth into the tens of millions—if you’re willing to do the work. Plus, they reveal where to park your money once you reach the top.

In This Episode We Cover

The average net worth of the 1% and the 0.1% in America (less than you’d think)

How the 1% invest their money and why they AREN’T heavily invested in real estate

The best investment for the chance of breaking into the top 1%

The “middle-class trap” that the 1% escape, but the upper-middle-class can’t

How the top 1% invest now compared to pre-pandemic and pre-2008

And So Much More!

Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

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