How much do we contribute to the wealth of the richest?

Vaհe H Apelian

Courtesy Forbes Magazine

In order to figure out, or put a monetary value, how much each American, irrespective of its wealth, contributes to have a society where it makes possible for the wealthiest in America possible, to accumulate such wealth, take the following into your account.

“The total wealth of the five wealthiest Americans is approximately $1.37 trillion, based on mid-to-late 2025 estimates. This figure is the sum of Elon Musk's $428 billion, Larry Ellison's $276 billion, Mark Zuckerberg's $253 billion, Jeff Bezos's $241 billion, and Larry Page's $178 billion, though rankings and net worths can fluctuate.” (According to the Wikipedia, on the wealth of the five richest Americans). 

“Much of America’s great wealth remains concentrated at the very top of the very top. The 20 richest people in the country hold a collective $3 trillion—nearly half of all American billionaire wealth—up from $2.3 trillion a year ago”.  (Forbes magazine on the 20 wealthiest in America).Now take into account how many are the Americans to produce such wealth?

Now take into account how many are we as Americans citizens to produce such wealth?

“The population of the U.S. is approximately 343 million as of late 2025, with the U.S. Census Bureau reporting 342,849,246 on November 19, 2025. Other sources provide slightly different estimates based on different data and projection methods, such as Worldometer's estimate of 347,978,297 for the same period or Macrotrends' mid-year 2025 estimate of 343,603,404.” (Wikipedia)

Consider the following math:

Trillion (TRN) = 1000 billion (BLN)

1 billion is 1000 million (MLN)

Therefore,

3 TRN x1000 BLN/TRN x1000 MLN/BLN = 3x1000x1000 MLN$, is the combined wealth of the 20 richest persons in the U.S.

Consequently,

342,849,246 of us American citizens "contributed" 3x1000x1000 MLN$, to the richest 20 persons in the U.S. Contributed in ways that made possible for the wealthiest to have such wealth. 

Therefore

Each one of us contributed $8750 to the 20 richest persons for their resourcefulness. 

We as American contributed  $3996  to the five richest.

Therefore, each one of the five wealthiest "got" $799 from each one of us.

Therefore, each of the remaining 15 wealthiest got $317, from each one of us. 

Is each one of us "contributing"  way too much for the wealthiest 20 Americans to produce such wealth ? What do the wealthiest contribute to the average Americans in return, jobs?

You figure,.