Six Figures Is Survival: America’s Wealth Illusion Is Crumbling

The Mirage of Middle-Class Prosperity The American middle class, once the heartbeat of the world’s most powerful economy, has been gutted and sold for parts. For decades, we were sold a lie: Get a degree, land a job, make six figures, and you’ll make it. But in 2025, six figures isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting point for financial survival. According to a new Harris poll: 64% of six-figure earners say they’re not thriving — they’re surviving. Half believe the American Dream is now out of reach. The top 10% are deferring health care, skipping vacations, and financing groceries. Three-quarters of them are using credit cards not for perks — but because they're broke between paychecks. These aren’t the…