Gavin Newsom warns democracy 'will die' without a 'distribution of wealth.' How to get rich alongside America’s elites in 2026

The post included a clip from his interview at the New York Times DealBook Summit, where he expanded on the concern. “I don't think it's healthy that we have 10% of people that own two-thirds of the wealth in this country,” he said. “I don't think it's sustainable practice.”

It’s a striking claim — and one backed by data. According to the Federal Reserve, the richest 10% of U.S. households owned about 67.4% of the nation’s total wealth as of Q2 2025 (2). More starkly, the top 1% held roughly $51.86 trillion in wealth — nearly as much as the $54.48 trillion owned by the entire bottom 90% combined.

Newsom also pointed to the growing strain on younger generations.

“The folks watching Mr. Beast, disproportionately 30-year-olds, [are] the first generation in history not doing better than their parents,” he said, adding, “We have an economy that is broken for too many people.”

He’s not alone in that concern. A growing body of research shows younger generations face significant economic headwinds — from unaffordable housing and heavy student loan debt to stagnant wages (3).

The widening gap has led many economists to describe today’s landscape as a K-shaped economy, where the richest Americans see their wealth rise alongside asset prices, while lower-income households struggle with weak income growth and high living costs.

Still, while Newsom’s diagnosis is grim, there’s a flip side. Access to many of the same assets long used by wealthy Americans has become far more democratized — giving everyday investors new ways to build wealth alongside the elite.

Here’s a look at a few simple ways to get started.

Become a real estate mogul — starting with $100

Real estate has long served as a cornerstone of wealth building in America.

Owning property can generate passive income through rent and offer potential for long-term appreciation — especially in high-demand markets. It’s also a classic hedge against inflation: When the cost of materials, labor and land goes up, property values tend to follow. Rental income typically climbs as well, creating a revenue stream that adjusts with inflation.

In fact, investing legend Warren Buffett has often pointed to real estate as a prime example of a productive, income-generating asset.

In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check (4).”

Of course, you don’t need billions — or even to buy an entire property — to benefit from real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

An overlooked asset class

Investing experts often stress the importance of diversification — and for good reason. Many traditional assets tend to move in tandem, especially during periods of market stress.

This is where, for many investors, alternative assets come into play. These can include everything from real estate and precious metals to private equity and collectibles.

But there’s one store of value that routinely flies under the radar: It’s scarce by design, coveted worldwide and frequently locked away by institutions.

We’re talking about post-war and contemporary art.

Think about it: The supply of these pieces is limited and many famous pieces have already been snatched up by museums and collectors. That scarcity can also make art an attractive option for investors looking to diversify and preserve wealth during periods of high inflation.

Until recently, purchasing art has been a domain reserved for the ultra-wealthy — like in 2022 when a collection of art owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold for $1.5 billion at Christie’s New York, making it the most valuable collection in auction history (5).

Now, Masterworks — a platform for investing in shares of blue-chip artwork by renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy — can help you get started with this asset class. It’s easy to use and, with 25 successful exits to date, Masterworks has distributed more than $65 million in total proceeds (including principal).

Simply browse their impressive portfolio of paintings and choose how many shares you’d like to buy. Masterworks can handle all the details, making high-end art investments both accessible and effortless.

New offerings have sold out in minutes, but you can skip their waitlist here.

Note that past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investing involves risk. See Reg A disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.

‘The best thing to do,’ according to Warren Buffett

The U.S. stock market has been a powerful engine of wealth creation. President Donald Trump has pointed to that strength, recently saying, “the only thing that’s really going up big? It’s called the stock market and your 401(k)s.”

The benchmark S&P 500 returned 16% in 2025 and has gained roughly 82% over the past five years.

Of course, consistently picking winning stocks isn’t easy. That’s why Buffett argues that most people don’t need to pick individual companies at all to benefit from the stock market’s long-term growth.

“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett has famously stated (6). This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active management.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: Link your cards and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio.