Britons Need 52 Years of Saving to Reach £1.3M
Resolution Foundation research estimates the saving time required for the average British worker to join the top 10% wealth bracket.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Saving
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Resolution Foundation research released in October 2025 estimated the average British worker would need 52 years of saving to reach £1.3 million ($1.7 million), the threshold to move from the middle class to the top 10% wealth bracket. Separate research estimated U.S. workers would need 70 years of saving to reach $4.4 million.
Why it matters
The report found that passive gains from property and investments, which have grown wealth for owners since 2010, are the key driver of widening wealth inequality. For workers relying on earnings alone, the estimates show how far the savings target sits from typical income.
The estimates come from a model that assumes a typical full-time employee saves every pound or dollar of earnings across the entire working life with zero bills paid. Figures do not account for inflation, financial shocks, or automation's effect on future work.
The players
Resolution Foundation
A British think tank focused on living standards, poverty, and inequality that published the wealth research cited in the story.
The details
The Resolution Foundation estimate assumes a British worker saves all earnings over their working life to reach the wealth threshold. Separately, U.S. workers say they need at least $2.3 million to feel rich, while the American Dream benchmark of $4.4 million includes a suburban house, two children, an annual vacation, and a new car.
Timeline
2010: Wealth of property and investment owners began ballooning.
October 2025: Resolution Foundation released its wealth research.
December 23, 2025: Fortune.com originally published this story.
Wealth Gap
The Resolution Foundation attributes widening wealth inequality mainly to passive gains from property and investments, which have compounded for owners since 2010. Savings estimates built on earnings alone show how far that gap has grown relative to typical workers.
For households without property or investments, the estimates suggest that steady earnings-based saving alone may take decades to reach wealth thresholds. Readers can compare their own savings pace against these benchmarks when planning long-term goals.
The takeaway
Building wealth often depends on more than earnings alone, since property and investment gains have driven much of the recent divide. Tracking savings against clear benchmarks can help readers set realistic long-term targets.
Further reading
For related context, explore the Saving section on how households build wealth over time.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fortune.
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