The Federal Reserve released its Survey of Consumer Finances on October 9, 2026, showing median wealth rose 31 percent for the top 10 percent of earners and 37 percent for Americans 75 and older between 2022 and 2025. The discussion has since widened to stock ownership: only 19 percent of Americans directly owned stocks last year, though median holdings for those who did rose 36 percent to $77,000. What remains open is how much of the wealth gain reflects market exposure most households do not have.