Simple observations signal that much more than 10% of households have a negative net worth.
I'd place an estimate, based on my personal observations from 33% to 50% of households.
Maybe you're not far from true, assuming public available data is limited to a whole 50% of population for a reason and no more break down is available (at least I haven't found it) for the same reason.
I do not have stats but I wager to say that the situation is not as bad as portrayed - I would say 20-25 percent of the USA are deadbeats in ghetto, barrios, there is another 20-25 percent who are marginal, working poor, and the rest are savers, small biz, government state employees, military pensioner etc, including rich folk, have positive net worth albeit some only small amount.
