The term "one percent" typically refers to the wealthiest individuals in a society. In the United States, it often refers to the top one percent of income earners or those with the highest net worth. According to the most recent data released by the IRS, to be in the top one percent by income in the U.S., a household income needed to exceed $515,000 in 2017
. The top one percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation's income every year
. This group is often the focus of discussions about income inequality and economic disparity
