There are quite a few interesting things on this chart.

First, there isn't a big difference in positive-versus-negative net worth for people with college degrees; a whopping 43% of people with negative net worth have them, versus 45% of people with positive net worth.

Second, amongst the negative people, student loans comprise 47% of their debt. Combine that with the previous point, and the question emerges: Is college worth it?

Third, apparently I'm one of only 4% of positive net worth people that is underwater on a mortgage. Bummer.

Fourth, and building on the previous point: for the positive net worth people, 40% of said net worth comes from positive equity in their home. Whereas, I have significant net worth-- higher than the average for even people in their 50s and 60s-- and that's in spite of my house, which is subtracting from my net worth. It makes it pretty obvious that many of these positive people have essentially not saved a dime for retirement. I actually have other articles in my notes that I could dig out which validate that point.

Fifth, this isn't taking national debt into account. Divide that up by every household, and practically everyone has negative net worth.

Finally, one can blame the State for everything plaguing the negative camp: student loan debt is out of control because the State subsidizes said loans; the housing bubble was a direct creation of the State's "everyone should own a house" push combined with their banking and financialization cartel buddies' assistance; and the State actively encourages single motherhood via the structure of its welfare laws, which I'd be willing to bet makes up the majority of these "single" and "female" negative equity people.