Estimated Value of Mineral Rights Owned by U.S. Households
$314B–$648B
2022 est.
Source: Wealth in America estimate derived from IRS Statistics of Income royalty data · Methodology: IRS net royalty income × depletion add-back × capture-rate adjustment × income-capitalization multiple × non-producing-acreage factor · Shaded band shows range across conservative-to-aggressive assumptions · 2000–2022
Royalty Net Income Reported on Tax Returns
$49.4B
2022
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, Table 1.4 · Total royalty net income on individual returns, 2000–2022
Tax Returns Reporting Royalty Income
1.80M
2022
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, Table 1.4 · Number of returns with royalty net income, 2000–2022
Key Data
Household-level metrics on mineral rights ownership, royalty income, and related financial assets.
| Metric | Value | As Of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Household Mineral Rights Value | $314B–$648B | 2022 est. | WIA / IRS SOI |
| Royalty Net Income (All Filers) | $49.4 Billion | Tax Year 2022 | IRS SOI |
| Tax Returns with Royalty Income | 1,797,000 | Tax Year 2022 | IRS SOI |
| Avg. Royalty Income Per Filer (Gross Est.) | ~$27,500 | Tax Year 2022 | IRS SOI |
| Estimated U.S. Mineral Rights Owners | ~12 Million | Est. | NARO / Industry Est. |
| Federal Onshore Royalty Rate | 16.67% | 2022–Present | TCS / IRA 2022 |
| Private Land Share of U.S. Drilling | >80% | Est. | NARO |