Overview
- Between 2003 and 2022, average income for very high‑income households rose 119% to about €1 million, widening the gap with other households from 21 to 31 times.
- In 2023 payroll data, the top 1% of private‑sector posts earned over €10,219 net per month and the top 0.1% at least €27,066, with 36 of the 100 highest‑paid posts held by Ligue 1 footballers.
- Top earnings and incomes are heavily concentrated in Île‑de‑France and skew toward men aged 50 or over, and 82% of these households are married or in civil unions.
- Despite contributing €10.7 billion in income tax in 2022, or 13% of the total, the average effective rate on these households fell to 25.7% from 29.2% in 2003.
- About 1.6 million households combine high patrimony and high living standards, and 62% report having received an inheritance.