Who has largest Roth IRA?
The story, based on confidential IRS data obtained by ProPublica, revealed that tech mogul Peter Thiel has the largest known Roth IRA, worth $5 billion as of 2019.
The story, based on confidential IRS data obtained by ProPublica, revealed that tech mogul Peter Thiel has the largest known Roth IRA, worth $5 billion as of 2019.
Peter Thiel, one of Paypal's founders, had $5 billion in a Roth IRA as of 2019, after a value of under $2,000 in 1999, according to a new ProPublica report.
- Peter Thiel has a $5 billion Roth IRA -- the largest in existence.
- Ted Weschler, one of Warren Buffett's deputies, has a $264 million Roth IRA.
3) Invest Your Roth IRA Contributions
Becoming a Roth IRA millionaire without contributing $1 million into your retirement account will require investing your contributions. If you want to do it the slow and hard way by contributing $6,500 per year and just having it sit there, it will take around 154 years.
Billionaires gain their advantage over the middle class by combining the backdoor Roth IRA with access. Take Peter Thiel, for example, who managed to turn $2,000 in 1999 money into $5 billion in 2027 money—when he will be 59 1/2 and able to withdraw his investments tax-free.
If you have more than $1 million saved in retirement accounts, you are in the top 3% of retirees. According to EBRI estimates based on the latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts, while just 0.1% have $5 million or more.
The Rich Man's Roth is a tax-advantaged strategy for high-earning individuals to accumulate and access funds tax-free. It offers unlimited contribution limits, life insurance policies as key components, and various investment options with risk management.
The minimum distribution generally is 50% of the amount by which the individual's prior year aggregate traditional IRA, Roth IRA and defined contribution account balance exceeds the $10 million limit.
In practice, most people in America make a grand total of $1.5 to $2 million dollars over their lifetimes, naturally spending most of it to, well, pay for those lifetimes. So $100 million is - at minimum - 50 times what you'd need to live an average life for you and your family.
What is the average Roth IRA balance?
| Age | Average IRA balance |
|---|---|
| Millennials | $18,800. |
| Gen X | $77,800. |
| Baby boomers | $207,800. |
| Source: Fidelity Investments | |
Roth 401(k) — not only for high earners
In fact, the case for contributing to a Roth 401(k) is often even stronger for a young person, financial planners say. If you're not making a lot of money, the tax deduction provided by a traditional 401(k) is less valuable. Plus, your funds will have more time to grow tax-free.
Rely on the math
Assuming an annual January contribution to your Roth IRA of $6,500 and an 8% average long-term investment return, you can expect to become an IRA millionaire in just under 34 years.
To contribute to a Roth IRA, single tax filers must have a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of less than $153,000 in 2023.
If you contribute 5,000 dollars per year to a Roth IRA and earn an average annual return of 10 percent, your account balance will be worth a figure in the region of 250,000 dollars after 20 years.
| Roth IRA Income and Contribution Limits for 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Less than $138,000 | $6,500 ($7,500 if age 50 or older) |
| $138,000 to $152,999 | Begin to phase out |
| $153,000 or more | Ineligible for direct Roth IRA |
In addition to a 401(k) plan, the IRS can also garnish other types of retirement accounts for back taxes, including: Pensions. Traditional and Roth IRAs. SEP and SIMPLE IRAs.
For the most affluent investors, the decision may be moot anyway due to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) income restrictions for Roth accounts. For 2023, individuals can't contribute to a Roth if they earn $153,000 or more per year—or $228,000 or more if they are married and file a joint return.
In fact, statistically, around 10% of retirees have $1 million or more in savings. The majority of retirees, however, have far less saved. If you're looking to be in the minority but aren't sure how to get started on that savings goal, consider working with a financial advisor.
If you have multiple income streams, a detailed spending plan and keep extra expenses to a minimum, you can retire at 55 on $2 million. However, because each retiree's circ*mstances are unique, it's essential to define your income and expenses, then run the numbers to ensure retiring at 55 is realistic.
Can I retire at 56 with $3 million dollars?
If you're retiring at 55 instead of 66, you have 11 extra years of expenses and 11 fewer years of income that your savings will need to cover. The good news: As long as you plan carefully, $3 million should be a comfortable amount to retire on at 55.
If your financial situation allows for it, you can max out your Roth IRA in one lump-sum. This strategy can let you take advantage of potential investment growth over time. However, investing smaller amounts regularly over time can help mitigate the impact of market fluctuations. This is known as dollar cost averaging.
Plenty of millionaires and superrich people use 401(k) plans to build wealth. But they don't necessarily put all their eggs in one basket. They may also supplement their 401(k) savings with IRAs, taxable brokerage accounts, annuities, real estate, and other investments.
The Bottom Line. In many cases, a Roth IRA can be a better choice than a 401(k) retirement plan, as it offers more investment options and greater tax benefits. It may be especially useful if you think you'll be in a higher tax bracket later on.
So $100 million is - at minimum - 50 times what you'd need to live an average life for you and your family. So, you'd think as long as you keep your spending below 50 times what people, on average, spend - about $2.5 million a year - it would last you your whole life.
