The average net worth of Brits, depending on their age

Ever wondered how your net worth changes with age? The stats are in (Picture: Getty Images) According to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list, Elon Musk is the richest man on the planet, with a net worth of $924.8bn (£690.8bn). The first woman on the list, ranking at 16, is Alice Walton, the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. A philanthropist, her net worth is yet another eye-watering $118.5bn (£88.52bn). But while the those sums might make you feel dizzy, we each have a slightly more modest net worth of our own. Not quite clear on what net worth actually means? It’s calculated by subtracting your liabilities (any money you owe, like mortgages, outstanding credit card debt, and student loans) from your assets (things like savings, property you own outright, and any retirement funds). A positive net worth means your assets (the things you own outright) are more than your debts, while a negative net worth is the opposite. Wondering how yours stack up compared to your peers? Let’s take a look at the average net worth for each age group in the UK. In your early 20s, your net worth won’t be super high (Picture: Getty Images) 25-34 — £115,000 In your 20s, it might feel like all you have to your name is your phone and maybe a nice bottle of wine you’re keeping for a special occasion. On average, though, the net worth for someone aged between 25 and 34 is £115,000. If that number seems astronomical, bear in mind that this study looks at the mean rather than the median, so can be skewed by those with much more wealth. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. At this point in your life, you’re in the early stages of your career, and given the average age of a first-time buyer in the UK is 34, might not be on the property ladder yet. Basically, try not to beat yourself up if your net worth is nowhere near this. As the saying goes, you’ll need to walk before you can run — and we don’t all set off from the same starting line. How to calculate your net worth Your net worth is the value of all of your assets, minus the total of all of your liabilities. Basically, it’s what you own minus what you owe. So, if you owe more money than you own, your net worth is negative. But if it’s the other way round, and you own more than you owe, it’s positive. Got it? 35-44 — £295,000 Moving on up to the 35 to 44 bracket, things will likely have changed for you. You might have bought a house (or a bigger one), built up your savings pot, or moved your way up the corporate ladder, which means your net worth will have grown. At this age, the average is more like £295,000, according to statistics released earlier this year by financial services firm Charles Stanley. This is more than double the average net worth of someone in the previous age group. Your net worth generally increases with age, up to a certain point (Picture: Getty Images) 45-52 — £485,000 At this point, the average net worth rests at £485,000 — almost half a million. The research explains this growth is due to the fact we see wealth ‘really boom’ around age 50 or so, as decisions like buying a house, investing in the stock market, or increasing pension contributions start to ‘bear fruit’. A 2026 study by Forbes revealed the average gross income for workers aged between 40 and 49 is £1,145 per week (for those in a managerial position, at least), which is a far cry from the £692 earned by those between 22 and 29. 55-64 — £625,000 Between the ages of 55 and 64, the average net worth peaks at £625,000. For most people, this is the best it’s ever going to be, as the average Brit typically pays off their mortgage between the ages of 63 and 65. Meanwhile, a previous study from PensionBee found the average pension wealth for people aged between 55 and 59 is £124,024. If you had children, they’re probably also grown-up and capable of fending for themselves too, and you likely don’t yet need costly later-in-life care. In your 60s, your net worth will start to drop as you claim your pension (Picture: Getty Images) 65-74 — £590,000 Between the ages of 65 and 74, the average net worth drops slightly, to £590,000. At this point, you’ve probably built up your retirement fund to the highest it’ll ever be, which also means you might’ve started cashing in on it, hence the slight decline in assets. With the UK state pension age at 66 — and an Institute for Fiscal Studies report finding employment tends to drop off from age 55 onwards — this is likely down to the fact you’re now (quite rightfully) using the wealth you’ve accrued. 75+ — £470,000 Again, from the age of 75 onwards, this figure drops again to £470,000. This is because at this point, you’ll actively be chipping away at the assets you’ve worked your whole life to accrue, including your pension. 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