US billionaires got $1.5T richer in 2025 as 24% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. How to invest like the wealthy

Core Insights - The wealth distribution in the U.S. has become increasingly concentrated, with the top 1% owning 31.7% of all wealth, equating to approximately $55 trillion, which is equal to the combined wealth of the bottom 90% [1][4] - In 2025, billionaire wealth surged to a record $15.8 trillion, with a 22% increase in total fortunes from $6.7 trillion to $8.2 trillion, driven by business creation, AI gains, and inheritance [4][5] - The wealth gap is widening, as 24% of American households live paycheck to paycheck, and a significant portion of the population is skipping meals and medical treatments to save money [2][3] Wealth Concentration - The top 10% of Americans hold over 87% of stocks and mutual fund shares, allowing them to benefit from untaxed income through borrowing against their stock holdings [8] - Billionaire wealth has expanded three times faster in 2025 compared to the previous five years, indicating a significant acceleration in wealth accumulation among the ultra-rich [6] Investment Strategies - Billionaires diversify their portfolios beyond traditional markets, with 30% of total wealth held in real estate, which provides a buffer during market volatility and inflation [16][17] - Alternative assets, particularly post-war and contemporary art, are increasingly being added to billionaire portfolios, rising from 15% to 20% in 2025 [24][25] Access to Investment Opportunities - Platforms like Masterworks allow retail investors to own fractional shares of high-value artworks, yielding annualized returns of 14.6% to 17.8% [26][27] - Crowdfunding platforms enable investments in real estate with minimal capital, allowing broader access to property investments [18][19]