5 Ways the Wealthy Will Spend Big in 2026, According to Experts
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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The top one-third wealthiest Americans spent 4% more in November 2025 than November 2024, the fastest increase in four years, according to Yahoo Finance, who cited a report from the Bank of America Institute.
“Spending continues to grow. Wages and income continue to grow,” said Liz Everett Krisberg, head of the Bank of America Institute, in a CNBC news report.
But the growth isn’t spread equally across income levels. The top one-third of higher-income households drove more than half of consumer spending throughout most of 2025, according to the Bank of America Institute report.
How will wealthy Americans continue to spend their money in 2026? While many people think that America’s ultra-rich splurge on designer purses, sneakers and sports cars, the truth might surprise you.
Household and Business Management Services
While wealthy Americans may have more money than the middle-class, everyone is given the same 24 hours in a day. Wealthy individuals will use that money to buy time in 2026.
“I see a continued shift toward spending that actually makes life easier and creates more time,” said Kevin Reed, chief revenue officer of Aquilance.
Platforms that help individuals manage multiple properties, businesses and staff can free up time to focus on what’s important.
“I’ve seen folks experience a big personal ROI with services [that] help families manage their interaction with several homes, family members, employees and projects,” he said, adding that people are likely to spend selectively on apps or software-as-a-service and more willing to invest in fully outsourced management.
Household Help
Similarly, wealthy families will continue to invest in household help like nannies, chefs or personal assistants in 2026. Using a household employee recruiting agency can provide peace-of-mind that they are making the right choices for professional services, Reed said.
“The largest expenses are typically tied to family and things that will benefit their children and grandchildren,” he added. “Time with family is truly priceless, so this will always be a high priority.”
Luxury Travel
Travel and entertainment spending is likely to continue to rise for all income groups in 2026. “Paying for experiences, such as cruises, concert and sporting events, is high on both groups’ shopping wish lists,” Everett Krisperg said on the Bank of America website.
But wealthy Americans will approach travel planning differently than the rest of us. “Luxury travel agents are in high demand,” Reed explained, noting that people are likely to spend money on multigenerational, international trips.
Health and Wellness
Spending money in the right way can buy time and freedom; it can also, potentially, buy better health so you can enjoy that time. Reed said he’s seeing a shift toward wealthy individuals investing in their health.
“I see more spending focused on the individual,” he said. “Hyper-personalized healthcare offered by concierge doctors, longevity tracking services and various biohacking protocols. A personal trainer would be another hire in this category.”
Cryptocurrency
As bitcoin continues to gain value under President Trump’s crypto-friendly policies, the investment becomes harder for wealthy Americans to ignore.
“Crypto is still gaining traction as a legitimate asset,” Reed said.
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