How much do you need to be rich these days?

Average household wealth, and what it takes to rank among Australia’s wealthiest 1%.

Being a billionaire isn’t what it used to be. Back in 1990, Australia had one of them – the late media mogul Kerry Packer. But these days Australia has lots.

According to the just-released Australian Financial Review Rich List, there are now 150 individuals and families with an estimated wealth topping $1 billion. Collectively they control more than $600 billion in assets.

This year’s entry point just to make it onto the AFR’s list of Australia’s richest 200 was $718 million.

How to get on the rich list

There is no absolute dollar number that defines being rich. In simple terms, being rich on a financial level means having an abundance of wealth.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that the average net worth of Australian households in 2019-20 (its latest measurement period for individual households, released in April 2022) was just over $1.04 million.

Excluding the family home, investment properties, home contents and motor vehicles, Australian households on average held $445,000 in shares, bonds, cash, superannuation, and other assets.

Average household wealth has been growing steadily since then. ABS data for the December 2023 quarter, released in March, shows aggregated Australian household wealth rose for the fifth successive quarter, largely as a result of increases in residential property prices and investment assets including superannuation.

Analysis by global real estate consultancy Knight Frank quantifies what it takes to be among the richest 1%, based on information provided by private bankers, wealth advisers, intermediaries, and family offices.

Knight Frank’s 2024 Wealth Report, released in March, found that the minimum amount of money and assets needed in Australia in 2023 was US$4.673 million (about $7 million).

It was actually easier to get on the Australian rich list last year than it was in 2022, thanks to a weaker Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar and because of the financial impacts of slower economic growth.

To be among the top 1% wealthiest Australians in 2022 required a significantly higher amount of US$5.5 million (about $8.26 million).

According to Knight Frank, Australia ranked seventh in the world for the amount of money needed to be in the top 1% in 2023, down from third in 2022.

Monaco remained in the top position, where $US12.883 million (about $19.34 million) was needed. 

How much money is enough?

It’s an age-old question and, unlike quantifying how much money it takes to be in the top 1%, there’s no absolute number in terms of how much money individuals and couples actually need.

That’s because financial needs are always very specific to one’s personal circumstances and spending needs.

For example, how much money people need to have a comfortable life in retirement can’t really be averaged out to an actual number because that ultimately comes down to individual spending levels.

Longevity risk – the risk of outliving savings – is a growing concern for many retirees in deciding how much money to draw down from their superannuation balance during retirement.

This is where sound professional advice matters. Vanguard’s research has found there is a strong correlation between the use of a financial adviser and retirement confidence.

Preparing well ahead for life in retirement is key. People with the lowest confidence about their retirement tend to be the least actively prepared.

Often they have never accessed financial advice and have little understanding of how they can achieve their retirement goals. They also expect to be more reliant on the government’s Age Pension after they retire than those with higher retirement confidence.

A good starting point for many Australians should be to seek out professional advice, especially in the context of retirement spending and understanding how the Age Pension may play an important role.

Source: Vanguard June 2024

This article has been reprinted with the permission of Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. Copyright Smart Investing™

GENERAL ADVICE WARNING

Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd (ABN 72 072 881 086 / AFS Licence 227263) (VIA) is the product issuer and operator of Vanguard Personal Investor. Vanguard Super Pty Ltd (ABN 73 643 614 386 / AFS Licence 526270) (the Trustee) is the trustee and product issuer of Vanguard Super (ABN 27 923 449 966).
The Trustee has contracted with VIA to provide some services for Vanguard Super. Any general advice is provided by VIA. The Trustee and VIA are both wholly owned subsidiaries of The Vanguard Group, Inc (collectively, “Vanguard”).
We have not taken your or your clients’ objectives, financial situation or needs into account when preparing our website content so it may not be applicable to the particular situation you are considering. You should consider your objectives, financial situation or needs, and the disclosure documents for the product before making any investment decision. Before you make any financial decision regarding the product, you should seek professional advice from a suitably qualified adviser. A copy of the Target Market Determinations (TMD) for Vanguard’s financial products can be obtained on our website free of charge, which includes a description of who the financial product is appropriate for. You should refer to the TMD of the product before making any investment decisions. You can access our Investor Directed Portfolio Service (IDPS) Guide, Product Disclosure Statements (PDS), Prospectus and TMD at vanguard.com.au and Vanguard Super SaveSmart and TMD at vanguard.com.au/super or by calling 1300 655 101. Past performance information is given for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as, and is not, an indication of future performance. This website was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions.
Important Legal Notice – Offer not to persons outside Australia
The PDS, IDPS Guide or Prospectus does not constitute an offer or invitation in any jurisdiction other than in Australia. Applications from outside Australia will not be accepted. For the avoidance of doubt, these products are not intended to be sold to US Persons as defined under Regulation S of the US federal securities laws.
© 2024 Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. All rights reserved.

Please share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin