Physician wealth, net worth by the numbers 

Advertisement

Physician net worth is climbing, with the share of physicians worth $5 million or more nearly doubling since 2023, but beneath that number, significant gaps persist across gender and race, according to Medscape’s 2026 “Physician Wealth and Debt Report.”

Physician net worth

Physician net worth shifted notably between 2023 and 2026. The biggest change is that far more doctors now report net worth of $5 million or more (19% in 2026, up from 11% in 2023), while the share in the $2M–$5M range shrank slightly.

Net worth range20262023
Under $500,00024%25%
$500,000 – $999,99914%16%
$1 million – $1,999,99919%19%
$2 million – $4,999,99925%29%
$5 million or more19%11%

Net worth by gender

Male physicians are significantly more likely to have net worth above $2 million, while female physicians are more concentrated at lower wealth levels.

Net worth rangeMenWomen
Under $500,00019%29%
$500,000 – $999,99912%16%
$1 million – $1,999,99918%19%
$2 million – $4,999,99928%23%
$5 million or more22%14%

Net worth by race/ethnicity

Net worth rangeBlackAsian AmericanWhiteHispanic/Latinx
Under $1 million48%36%35%53%
$1 million – $4,999,99941%45%44%38%
$5 million or more10%18%21%10%

Where does physicians’ wealth come from?

Retirement accounts are by far the largest driver of physician net worth, followed by real estate.

SourceShare
Retirement accounts38%
Homes and other real estate27%
Financial investments (outside retirement)14%
Cash accounts10%
Personal property5%
Education savings accounts3%
Business equity / nonfinancial investments2%
Other1%

At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

Is ambulatory care healthcare’s big margin engine? 4 leaders weigh in

Wednesday, July 29
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Joe Ganley, athenahealthJeffrey Flynn, CASC, Gramercy Surgery CenterBryan Tsao, Access Center, Loma Linda University HealthJason Zepeda, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, CommonSpirit HealthGreg DeConciliis, PA-C, CASC, Boston Out­Patient Surgical Suites

Advertisement

Next Up in ASC Coding, Billing & Collections

Advertisement