Economy: May 25, 2001

The median net worth of retirees increased 36 percent between 1983 and 1998, according to the American Association of Retired People (AARP), which found that the net worth of people aged 50 and older increased to $134,000; the AARP report found that the combined wealth of the demographic grew from $7.6 trillion to $20 trillion during that period, but that wealth is not spread evenly among retirees; a portion of the group—15 percent, or about 5 million people—are facing retirement unprepared, with a median net worth of $6,400.