Where are you in the rat race? Australian household Net Worth by Age

I found an interesting estimation of Australian household median and average net worth (total assets - total liabilities) broken down by age group on a webpage by wealthvieu. It made the estimates using the ABS survey of Income and Housing for 2019-20, and then adjusting for current (2025-26) property valuations. It also have estimated household net worth for the 25th, 50th (median), 75th, 90th and 99th percentile of the overall Australian adult population. I then calculated the ratio of these percentiles relative to the median and applied it to the median for each age group, so I could plot a rough estimate of the Household NW percentile values plotted against age.

I added DW's super balance and share of our home valuation to my NW figure to get an estimate of our household net worth for comparison. It looks like we would fall somewhere around the 97th-98th percentile for our age group.

As expected, household net worth starts off close to zero at age 20, then rises during working life until it peaks just before retirement, and is then 'decumulated' during retirement. But as studies have shown, most retirees do not 'die with zero' but instead leave an estate (either by intent, or by underspending during retirement).

It is interesting to see how the NW gap narrows as you proceed from the 25th, to 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles -- but then the 99th percentile is considerably further above the 90th percentile than you would expect if the progression up to the 90th percentile had continued to follow the same trend. It seems that the top 1%-5% of the population is considerably more skilled than most at wealth accumulation. I suppose this is true of most areas of human endeavor -- a small percentage of participants in any activity are exceptional good at it, and stand 'head and shoulders' above even the top 10%.

It is also interesting (to me) that the peak of the 99th percentile is 'only' a realistically achievable $10MM or so. Some of those in the 'top 1%' achieve truly stratospheric net worth of $100MM, $1B etc. Usually based on the creation of one insanely successful (and lucrative) business venture...

Subscribe to Enough Wealth. Copyright 2006-2026

Net Worth APR 2026

Chart updated to end of APR in sidebar.

The US stock market has continued to appreciate despite the ongoing Iran war (possibly due purely to an AI bubble reminiscent of the dot.com bubble of 2000), while the Australian and other international markets continue to show weakness. Probably indicative of an impending global recession and inflationary pressures due to oil price likely to remain above $100/barrel for the rest of the year.

My stocks/cash increased $24,669 (+5.26%) to $493,946. This was largely due to a cash gift I received in April that I added to my mortgage offset account.

Retirement savings (SMSF etc.) increased by +$67,801 (+3.03%) to $2,308,743. This didn't quite fully reverse the substantial drop experienced in March. No contributions made this month. Having started my new job this week, some SGL contributions will recommence soon.

The real estate holdings were a mixed bag. The estimated value of our home remained unchanged at $1,295,556 (my half) for yet another month, While my 'other real estate' (investment apartment and holiday home) increased by +$6,632 (+0.30%) to $2,194,239.

Other assets (my online depository bullion account at Perth Mint, and the bullion value of my gold and silver proof coin collection) decreased by -$4,588 (-5.10%) to $85,447. I am currently still adding $200 worth of gold to my Perth Mint online depository account each month. In theory a price dip is good while using DCA to accumulate an asset over time. Every cloud has a silver (or gold) lining I suppose.

Overall, NW increased by +$94,514 (+1.79%) to $5,385,940 during April. NW needs to increase by about 0.2% per month on average to keep pace with inflation (I.e. maintain real value), so the increase during April was about +1.6% in real value. Excluding the gift I received, the April 'bounce back' recouped about half of the decrease experienced in March.

The acute impact of the Iran war seems to have mitigated, but I expect the impact on the global economic growth and inflation will be negative during the remainder of 2026.

We just had to spend around $5,000 to have one of our home's property fences replaced, so this will impact my NW figure at the end of May. I will receive my SMSF pension payment in June, but as that will effectively just be a transfer of funds from my SMSF account into my mortgage offset account it will not impact my overall NW.

Subscribe to Enough Wealth. Copyright 2006-2026