Do Billionaires Still Collect Social Security? The Answer Might Surprise You.

Nearly 70 million Americans received Social Security checks in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration, and at least a few of them may have been billionaires.

While the wealthiest Americans likely don't need Social Security benefits, they can technically qualify for them. Perhaps the most surprising part, though, is that many lower-earning workers collect the same amount from Social Security as billionaires.

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How much do billionaires receive from Social Security?

The higher your income, the more you'll receive in Social Security benefits -- up to a certain point. That cap is the maximum taxable earnings limit, or the highest income subject to Social Security tax. Any earnings above that limit will not contribute to benefit calculations, effectively maxing out Social Security.

In 2026, the maximum benefit amount is $5,251 per month. To achieve that, you'll need to consistently reach the maximum taxable earnings limit, which is $184,500 per year in 2026.

In other words, workers earning $185,000 per year can earn the same Social Security benefit as those earning $185 million per year.

Billionaires' net worth alone doesn't immediately qualify them for Social Security, however. To collect retirement benefits, workers must have worked and paid payroll taxes for at least 10 years. Social Security only counts earned income, though, which doesn't include investment growth or dividend payments -- sources that make up a significant chunk of many billionaires' net worth.

What does it take to earn the maximum benefit?

Consistently reaching the maximum taxable earnings limit is only one of the three requirements for earning the highest possible Social Security benefit.

The second requirement is to work for at least 35 years. The Social Security Administration calculates your benefit by taking an average of your earnings throughout the 35 years you earned the most. That figure is then run through a complex formula and adjusted for inflation, and the result is the amount you'll collect at your full retirement age.

The final requirement, then, is to delay benefits until age 70. Your full retirement age is either 66 or 67, depending on your birth year, and filing at that age will give you 100% of your earned benefit. By waiting just a few more years until age 70, though, you can earn as much as possible from Social Security.

You don't have to be a billionaire to boost your Social Security payments. By delaying benefits, working at least 35 years, and getting as close as you can to the maximum taxable earnings limit, you could receive more than you might think.

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