Why 90% of millionaires invest in real estate?
The ability to leverage is one of the greatest benefits of real estate investment. Millionaires understand that you are not limited to your own resources. You can leverage the resources of others to build your wealth. You can leverage with money.
It's not just about making money; it's about preserving and growing wealth over generations. One of the secrets to millionaire wealth is the creation of multiple streams of passive income. Real estate investments, particularly rental properties, generate ongoing rental income, contributing to a consistent cash flow.
Real estate investment has long been a cornerstone of financial success, with approximately 90% of millionaires attributing their wealth in part to real estate holdings. In this article, we delve into the reasons why real estate is a preferred vehicle for creating millionaires and how you can leverage its potential.
“Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate. More money has been made in real estate than in all industrial investments combined. The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate.” - Andrew Carnegie, billionaire industrialist.
90% Of Millionaires Are Made In Real Estate - 100% Of Billionaires Are... TikTok. If 90% of millionaires come from real estate, then 100% of billionaires come from private equity. And every month I acquire several new companies.
“90% of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” This famous quote from Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs of all time, is just as relevant today as it was more than a century ago.
Real estate investors make money through rental income, appreciation, and profits generated by business activities that depend on the property. The benefits of investing in real estate include passive income, stable cash flow, tax advantages, diversification, and leverage.
Choose the right career
And one crucial detail to note: Millionaire status doesn't equal a sky-high salary. “Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career,” the study found, “and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.”
The number of millionaire renters has soared over the last five years, according to a recent report by Beauchamp Estates. Tight home inventory, high mortgage rates and rising costs have many affluent individuals ditching the downpayment for a security deposit.
The 100 to 10 to 3 to 1 rule is a guideline for real estate investors that suggests a property's monthly rent should be at least 1% of its total purchase price.
How many millionaires go broke?
According to a blog by renowned penny stock investor Timothy Sykes, the average millionaire goes bankrupt at least 3.5 times. The reasons rich people go broke are not all that different than the reasons anyone goes broke.
You need more money than ever to enter the ranks of the top 1% of the richest Americans. To join the club of the wealthiest citizens in the U.S., you'll need at least $5.8 million, up about 15% up from $5.1 million one year ago, according to global real estate company Knight Frank's 2024 Wealth Report.
According to data: 27% of the ultra wealthy are self made: It defines them as people with a "middle-class or poor upbringing and no inheritance." 46% have a head start: Almost half the super rich people surveyed either had some inherited wealth or an affluent upbringing.
| Rank | Asset | Average Proportion of Total Wealth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary and Secondary Homes | 32% |
| 2 | Equities | 18% |
| 3 | Commercial Property | 14% |
| 4 | Bonds | 12% |
Studies indicate that millionaires may have, on average, as much as 25% of their money in cash. This is to offset any market downturns and to have cash available as insurance for their portfolio. Cash equivalents, financial instruments that are almost as liquid as cash. are popular investments for millionaires.
I spent five years studying and interviewing 233 millionaires to learn about their habits and the way they think. Work was a big topic: 51% were entrepreneurs, 28% had traditional 9-to-5 jobs, and 18% were senior-level executives at large companies.
The Bottom Line
The reasons are numerous and vary by investor. Most people, however, enjoy tax benefits, a hedge against inflation and earn passive income. They also may see capital appreciation on their investments. You may be eligible to leverage your investment in real estate.
Ultra-wealthy individuals invest in such assets as private and commercial real estate, land, gold, and even artwork. Real estate continues to be a popular asset class in their portfolios to balance out the volatility of stocks.
Buying a home may be the "American Dream," but it's certainly not a prerequisite for building wealth. Owning a home is expensive, even if you rent it out, and you're never guaranteed a profit. Consider REITs instead, and maximize your investments in the market to build long-term wealth.
- Real estate: 45%
- Stock market: 32%
- Savings bonds: 21%
- Cash: 21%
- Tax-advantaged retirement account: 16%
Is it better to build wealth through real estate or stocks?
The Bottom Line
You can grow your wealth through both real estate and stock market investments or even a combination of both. Choosing which route to take may come down to your risk tolerance level, comfort level with each asset and how you want to spend your time.
Real estate investments can serve as a hedge against inflation. Real estate ownership is generally considered a hedge against inflation, as home values and rents typically increase with inflation. There can be tax advantages to property ownership.
The average IQ of self-made deca-millionaires (over $10M net worth) is 118. The average IQ of self-made* billionaires is 133. The average IQ of self-made deca-billionaires (over $10B net worth) is 151. Of note, average incomes correlate well with IQ, however there is a much lower correlation between IQ and net wealth.
- Engineering. Coming in at the top is engineering - which might surprise you, but the scope of engineering is huge and widening all of the time. ...
- Economics / Finance. ...
- Politics. ...
- Mathematics. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Law. ...
- MBA.
Most of today's millionaires weren't born into their wealth, research shows. A study published by Wealth-X found that around 68 percent of those with a net worth of $30 million or more made it themselves.
