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Fortune
Fortune
Emma Burleigh

Gen Z may not be able to afford a house or the cost of living now—but give it 10 years. They're about to become the richest generation

Affluent Gen Zers on vacation (Credit: Yana Iskayeva / Getty Images)

Gen Z is living the paycheck-to-paycheck twenties lifestyle—splurging on high rent costs and dishing out 99-cent ramen noodles. Yet in just a decade, they’ll be the most powerful economic force.

Only two years ago, Gen Z had amassed $9 trillion in income, but by 2030 they’re expected to have $36 trillion. And by 2040, that number rises to $74 trillion. A 2025 Bank of America report showed this will place them as the richest—and largest—generation by 2035, as Gen Z is expected to grow to 30% of the global population in the next decade. 

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