You selected the mean ($388,585) instead of the median ($55,876). One is America's average net worth per person (adult); the other is the net worth of the avera

You selected the mean ($388,585) instead of the median ($55,876). One is America's average net worth per person (adult); the other is the net worth of the average American. Given that these values differ by over $300,000, that's arguably even less accurate than saying that the average American's net worth is below zero. EDIT: misread original comment's mention of median figure, but given its overall assertion in the context of this discussion, I'm leaving this here.