Millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers are often portrayed as a trio constantly at economic odds with one another. But how much of this is actually true? There's no denying that these groups are different, but they may have more in common that you might think.
Millennials (Born approximately between 1982 and 1996)
- Roughly 83 million millenials in the United States
- The most diverse generation in U.S. history
- Forty-five percent of millenials have a retirement account
- Driven, civic-minded, inclusive, and ambitious
- Historical experiences: Columbine, 9/11, the Internet, and the Great Recession
- Motivations: Responsibility, self-care, experiences, and financial well-being
- Fun fact: Millennials read 5 books a year on average
Generation X (Born approximately between 1965 and 1980)
- Roughly 50 million Gen Xers in the United States
- Gen Xers make up the highest percentage of startup founders at 55 percent
- Gen Xers will outnumber baby boomers by 2028
- Flexible, casual, analytical, and self-reliant
- Historical experiences: The AIDS epidemic, the birth of MTV, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the dot-com boom
- Motivations: Socially conscious, work-life balance, personal growth, and learning
- Fun fact: Only 41 percent of Gen Xers consider themselves part of Generation X
Baby Boomers (Born approximately between 1946 and 1964)
- Roughly 73 million baby boomers in the United States
- Baby boomer purchasing power is a staggering $2.6 trillion
- Baby boomers spend nearly $23 billion on their pets on average, per year
- Hopeful, focused, hardworking, and team-oriented
- Historical experiences: The Vietnam War, Watergate, civil rights movement, and the Space Race
- Motivations: Loyalty, duty, travel, and family
- Fun fact: Baby boomers own nearly $13.5 trillion in personal real estate