<P> The increase in wealth for the 1% was not homogeneous, with much of the wealth gains in the top 0.1% . Those between the top 1 percent and top 0.5 percent have actually lost a significant share of wealth over the past 50 years . </P> <P> Further, the top 400 Americans had net worth of $2 trillion in 2013, which was more than the combined net worth of the bottom 50% of U.S. households . The average net worth of these 400 Americans was $5 billion . The lower 50% of households held 3% of the wealth in 1989 and 1% in 2013 . The average net worth of the bottom 50% of households in 2013 was approximately $11,000 . </P> <P> This wealth inequality is apparent in the share of assets held . In 2010, the top 5% wealthiest households had approximately 72% of the financial wealth, while the bottom 80% of households had 5% . Financial wealth is measured as net worth minus home values, meaning income - generating financial assets like stocks and bonds, plus business equity . </P> <P> The Center for American Progress reported in September 2014 that: "The trends in rising inequality are also striking when measured by wealth . Among the top 20 percent of families by net worth, average wealth increased by 120 percent between 1983 and 2010, while the middle 20 percent of families only saw their wealth increase by 13 percent, and the bottom fifth of families, on average, saw debt exceed assets--in other words, negative net worth...Homeowners in the bottom quintile of wealth lost an astounding 94 percent of their wealth between 2007 and 2010 ." </P>

After adjusting for taxes and transfers the income distribution in the united states