Net Worth Calculator: What Are You Actually Worth?
Net worth is the single number that captures your entire financial position: total assets minus total liabilities. Enter your numbers, and get your honest financial snapshot.
Use the Calculator
What to enter:
- All assets: checking, savings, investments, retirement accounts, real estate, vehicles, valuables
- All liabilities: mortgage, car loans, student loans, credit card balances, personal loans
What you get:
- Your current net worth
- Assets vs. liabilities breakdown
- Net worth by category
- Tracking over time if you save multiple snapshots
What Is Net Worth?
Net worth = Total Assets − Total Liabilities
It answers the question: if you sold everything you own and paid off all your debts, what would you have left?
A positive net worth means your assets exceed your debts. A negative net worth (more debt than assets) is common among young people just starting out and isn't a permanent condition — it's a starting point.
What Counts as an Asset?
Liquid Assets (easily converted to cash)
- Checking and savings accounts
- Money market accounts
- Cash and equivalents
- Treasury bills and short-term bonds
Investment Assets
- Brokerage accounts (stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds)
- Retirement accounts: 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, pension
- HSA balance
- Cryptocurrency (at current market value)
Real Assets
- Primary home (current market value, not purchase price)
- Investment properties
- Vehicles (current KBB or Edmunds value, not what you paid)
- Business ownership stake
- Jewelry, art, collectibles (conservative liquidation value)
What not to include:
- Future income or expected salary raises
- Social Security benefits (unless you're near retirement)
- Projected inheritance
What Counts as a Liability?
- Mortgage balance (remaining principal, not original loan amount)
- Home equity line of credit (HELOC) balance
- Car loan balance
- Student loan balance
- Credit card balances (current statement balance)
- Personal loans
- Medical debt
- Any money owed to family or friends
Average Net Worth by Age in the US (2026)
| Age Group | Median Net Worth | Average Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $14,000 | $76,000 |
| 35–44 | $91,000 | $437,000 |
| 45–54 | $168,000 | $833,000 |
| 55–64 | $213,000 | $1,175,000 |
| 65–74 | $266,000 | $1,217,000 |
| 75+ | $254,000 | $977,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. Median is more useful than average — averages are skewed heavily by billionaires.
The median is what matters for comparison. Half of people in each group have more, half have less.
Why Median Matters More Than Average
The average net worth for 35–44 year olds appears to be $437,000. But the median is $91,000 — less than one-quarter of the average. Why? A small number of very wealthy individuals (worth $10M+) pull the average up dramatically.
When comparing your net worth, use median figures. If your net worth is above the median for your age group, you're doing better than half your peers.
How to Increase Your Net Worth
Net worth increases when you do one or more of these:
1. Grow assets
- Invest consistently in tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA)
- Build equity in your home through payments and appreciation
- Increase income and invest the difference
- Earn returns on existing investments
2. Reduce liabilities
- Pay down high-interest debt aggressively
- Avoid taking on new debt for depreciating assets
- Refinance at lower rates when possible
3. Both simultaneously The most powerful approach: increase income, keep expenses flat, redirect all extra cash to either investments or debt payoff.
The Home Equity Question
For many Americans, their home is their largest asset. Home equity = home market value − mortgage balance.
A $400,000 home with a $280,000 mortgage = $120,000 in equity (your asset).
As you make payments and the home appreciates, equity grows. This is why homeownership builds wealth over time — but it's also illiquid (you can't spend it without selling or borrowing against it).
Don't overcount your home value. Use a conservative estimate (Zillow/Redfin minus 5–10%) rather than the peak of the market.
The Vehicle Depreciation Trap
Vehicles are typically the worst "asset" to own from a net worth perspective. A new $45,000 car loses roughly 20% of its value the moment you drive off the lot, and another 10–15% per year for the next few years.
If you financed that car, your net worth impact is:
- Year 1: Asset value $36,000, loan balance $42,000 → −$6,000 to net worth
For maximum net worth building, drive used, reliable vehicles bought with cash or short-term loans. The financial difference between driving a $15,000 reliable used car vs. a $45,000 new car (financed) compounds dramatically over a career.
Tracking Net Worth Over Time
Calculate your net worth at least once a year, ideally quarterly. The trend matters more than the exact number at any point. You're looking for:
- Consistent growth year-over-year
- Decreasing total liabilities over time
- Increasing investment assets (not just savings)
Free tools for tracking: Personal Capital (now Empower), Mint, YNAB, or even a simple spreadsheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to have a negative net worth in my 20s? Very common. Student loans, car payments, and limited time to accumulate investments mean many people start negative. Focus on the trend: are you moving in the right direction each year?
Should I include my 401(k) in net worth? Yes, absolutely. Use the current vested balance. It's a real asset even though it's locked until age 59½ (with some exceptions). For pre-retirement net worth calculations, it's fully counted.
My home value went up a lot — how do I value it? Use a conservative estimate from Zillow, Redfin, or a recent comparable sale in your neighborhood. Subtract estimated selling costs (agent commission ~5–6%, closing costs ~2%). The equity you'd actually realize in a sale is what matters.
What net worth do I need to retire? The classic rule: 25× your annual expenses (the 4% rule). If you spend $60,000/year, you need $1.5M in invested assets to sustainably retire. Social Security and pensions reduce this requirement.