Banking Savings & Money Market Accounts

15 Places Ridiculously Wealthy People Keep Their Money

Learn the diverse investment strategies wealthy people use to build and protect their fortunes.

elegant woman wearing suit sitting on private jet talking on phone
Updated May 28, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Have you ever wondered where the world's wealthiest people keep their money?

When you're worth billions of dollars, keeping your entire fortune in the bank is risky. That's why the ultra-rich make sure to diversify their funds across many investments.

Luckily, these strategies aren't reserved for millionaires. Here are 15 places where ridiculously wealthy people invest their money, and you can too.

Steal this billionaire wealth-building technique

The ultra-rich have also been investing in art from big names like Picasso and Bansky for centuries. And it's for a good reason: Contemporary art prices have outpaced the S&P 500 by 136% over the last 27 years.

A new company called Masterworks is now allowing everyday investors to get in on this type of previously-exclusive investment. You can buy a small slice of $1-$30 million paintings from iconic artists, all without needing any art expertise.

If you have at least $10k to invest and are ready to explore diversifying beyond stocks and bonds,see what Masterworks has on offer. (Hurry, they often sell out!)

Stocks

joyfotoliakid/Adobe man checking stock graphs on monitor

Historically, stocks have provided the highest rate of return compared to other common investments, like savings accounts and bonds. That's why many wealthy people often invest heavily in the stock market.

In fact, Warren Buffett advised his trustee in 2014 to put 90% of his funds into an S&P 500 index fund. Stocks can be risky, but they may prove a lucrative investment, especially over the long run. 

According to J.P. Morgan, the S&P 500 has had a total average annual return of about 11% since 1950.

Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.

Government bonds

JJ Gouin/Adobe united states savings bonds stacked on table

Buffett also advised his trustee to put the other 10% of his funds into short-term government bonds.

Buying government bonds is basically loaning the government money in exchange for interest payments. They are generally considered safe investments because they are backed by the federal government.

The government pays interest regularly, so the rich use these bonds as a steady source of income.

High-yield savings accounts

photobyphotoboy/Adobe calculator with pennies and piggy bank on clipboard

Depositing money into a high-yield savings account is a safe way to earn a decent return.

These accounts typically offer around 4.00% APY these days — much better than the FDIC national average of only 0.46% on regular savings accounts. They are usually FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per bank ($500,000 in joint accounts), so money is protected if the bank fails.

The wealthy invest in high-yield savings accounts because it's low-risk and provides liquidity when they need money quickly.

Get a free stock valued between $5 to $200

Secret: You don't need thousands of dollars to buy thousand-dollar stocks or create a diverse portfolio.

Robinhood offers a method of investing called “fractional shares.” On its own, one share of a single stock could cost a lot of money, making it difficult to diversify. Robinhood allows you to buy pieces of stock instead, so you have the option to build a diverse portfolio quickly.

Let’s say you want to invest $250, as an example.

With that amount, you could build a relatively diverse portfolio with an investment of $50 in a big tech stock, $50 in a retail stock, $50 in an energy stock, $50 in a manufacturing stock, and $50 in a bank.1

Even better news? Add a Robinhood Gold membership, and you’ll get access to 5.00% APY2on your uninvested cash3and the ability to buy and sell stocks 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Open and fund a Robinhood account and earn up to $200 in stock

401(k)

Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe 401K plan on white paper at table

A 401(k) is a plan to save for retirement that an employer sponsors.

An employee can contribute some of their pre-tax income to their 401(k), and the employer may offer to match those contributions. The employee can then choose to invest the contributions into various funds, like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

Wealthy people use 401(k)s because it's a convenient way to save, invest, and defer taxes.

IRAs

emiliezhang/Adobe jar full pennies with ira paper on top

An individual retirement account (IRA) is a savings plan for retirement with tax advantages. IRAs offer many investment options, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

The rich use IRAs to diversify their investment portfolios, grow their wealth, and reduce tax liabilities. IRAs also offer more control and flexibility over investments than 401(k)s.

However, 401(k)s offer higher annual contribution limits than IRAs, so there's less money-saving potential from tax advantages.

CDs

Andrii/Adobe certificate of deposit placed at table with pen calculator and highlighter

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a savings account that you deposit money into but can't touch for a set amount of time (at least usually not without a penalty). During this time, your money earns interest.

Fixed-rate, federally insured CDs are a low-risk way for wealthy people to earn a guaranteed return on their investment.

Businesses

LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe blurrred portrait of modern office with business woman and man walking

Many ultra-wealthy individuals own businesses, either as entrepreneurs or investors.

Investing in companies may offer a return on investment. However, it can be risky because businesses have the potential to fail.

The wealthiest people often own companies and invest their profits back into the business. For example, Elon Musk said in a 2018 interview that his biggest investments were in his own companies, Tesla and SpaceX.

Commodities

Nadejda Schour/Adobe wood and coal filled in containers placed at rail station for transportation

Purchasing commodities is another way for the rich to store their wealth, hedge their bets, and diversify their portfolios.

Commodities are raw materials that can usually be grown or extracted and then bought or sold. Some examples are oil, copper, and natural gas.

Investing in commodities can protect against inflation because their value often rises along with other prices.

ETFs

carballo/Adobe male broker sitting at table using computer to check stocks

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) pools money from investors to buy stocks, bonds, and other assets. It's an efficient way to diversify investments and manage risk across multiple sectors.

ETFs are traded like individual stocks, meaning investors can buy and sell them quickly. This is ideal for the wealthy who want to easily change their asset positions.

They're also lower-cost, more transparent, and more tax efficient than mutual funds.

Earn up to a $300 bonus and grow your money with up to 4.20% APY

This powerful combination checking + savings account from SoFi® allows you to earn up to a $300 bonus with direct deposit and grow your money with up to 4.20% APY.4

This is one of the top accounts we’ve seen, and offers like this can be rare. You work hard, and now it’s time to make your money work for you — with SoFi, you can grow your money with hardly any effort!

SoFi has no account or overdraft fees5 and additional FDIC insurance up to $2 million on deposits is available through a seamless network of participating banks.67 Plus, you can receive your paycheck up to 2 days early.8

How to earn up to $300: Sign up and make a direct deposit within the first 25 calendar days of the promotional period, then collect a $300 cash bonus with a direct deposit of $5,000 or more.

SoFi is a Member, FDIC. 7

Open your SoFi account and set up direct deposit

Real estate

Konstantin L/Adobe vacant streets in front of modern suburban homes

Real estate is typically a sound investment because it can appreciate over time, provide passive income through rent, and offer tax deductions.

As a result, wealthy people often invest in luxury homes, commercial buildings, rental properties, and land. Bill Gates, for example, owns 272,000 acres of farmland.

They may also use real estate as collateral to receive loans. This gives them access to more money that they can invest elsewhere.

Corporate bonds

88studio/Adobe male broker sitting at table explaining documents to client in front of him

When a corporation needs capital, it can issue bonds that investors can buy.

If investors buy the bonds, they're essentially lending the corporation money in exchange for interest payments and a return of the principal at maturity.

The wealthy buy corporate bonds because it's a steady income stream, and they may get back the entire principal if held to maturity. They can also offset risk from volatile stock holdings.

Regular brokerage accounts

Wuttichaik/Adobe colleagues discussing financial reports

Brokerage accounts give wealthy people access to various investments they can buy or sell anytime, making it a convenient place to keep their money.

With the ability to invest in stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds, the rich may yield greater returns.

Unfortunately, there aren't tax benefits like there are with retirement plans, but brokerage accounts offer much more flexibility.

529 plans

zimmytws/Adobe 529 plan key chain with graduation hat

A 529 plan is a savings account for educational expenses and often comes with tax advantages (many states provide a tax deduction on contributions). 

Funds can be invested in assets such as ETFs to potentially generate higher returns than regular savings accounts.

The wealthy often establish a 529 plan for their kids and grandkids early on to help save for their future education.

Trusts

Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe The word

A trust fund is a legal arrangement where a trustee manages your assets to benefit another person, group of people, or organization.

The rich use trust funds so that when they die, their beneficiaries can inherit their assets while avoiding probate and certain taxes.

They can also control how the beneficiary uses their assets; for example, stipulating that money can only go toward buying a house.

Other tangible assets

Rattanachai/Adobe closeup of colorful vintage cars lined up in garage

With their level of wealth, the super-rich get creative when finding new ways to diversify their investments.

Some prefer to purchase tangible assets that they are personally passionate about and can enjoy. For example, they may collect classic cars, art collections, fine wine, and even unique coins.

Not only do these assets store their wealth, but they could appreciate in value.

Bottom line

Wesley J/peopleimages.com/Adobe african american female lawyer consulting couple

While the investment strategies of the ultra-rich may seem out of reach for the average person, you can still take inspiration from their success and apply their methods to your own finances.

Some may use shady tactics like offshore bank accounts to avoid taxes, but there are many ethical investment techniques you can implement.

Whether you're interested in real estate, art collections, or more traditional options like stocks and bonds, taking calculated risks to pursue your financial goals may help you build wealth while you sleep.

Masterworks Benefits

  • Invest in art like a millionaire for a relatively low cost
  • Art investments have outperformed the S&P 500 by over 131% for 26 years
  • Purchase shares of artwork by top artists
  • Hedge against inflation and diversify your portfolio


Author Details

Carley Clark

Carley Clark is a personal finance writer from Michigan. She graduated from Spring Arbor University with a bachelor's degree in business. After graduation, she worked in finance as a revenue auditor at a casino. Carley strives to write informative content that will help readers meet their financial goals.