Americans are earning more now than ever before.
And while there's no question that the recession dealt a major blow to wealthy people around the globe, the U.S. is still home to the most millionaires* in the world, according to research and consulting firm Capgemini.
In the Capgemini 2012 U.S. Metro Wealth Index, we can see exactly how the nation's highest-earning consumers have managed to bounce back from the Great Recession.
“Each of the top five [cities] on its own is large enough to earn a ranking spot as one of the top 15 wealth markets in the world," said Jean Lassignardie, chief sales and marketing officer of Capgemini Global Financial Services.
"For instance, New York has more [high net worth individuals] than the Middle East and Africa based on the markets we cover."
Unsurprisingly, nine of the top 10 metro areas on this list are also among the most financially segregated places in the nation.
*Capgemini defines "millionaire" as those with $1 million or more in investable assets, which doesn't include their primary home.
10. Detroit
Thanks to poor equity markets and an auto industry pummeled by the economic downturn, Detroit is still struggling to regain its pre-recession population of millionaires.
Still, the city saw enough growth to maintain a spot in the top 10. After losing 16% of millionaires in 2008, it's added just about 15% back.
Growth in millionaires over time:
2007: 94,500
2008: 79,500
2009: 89,100
2010: 92,100
2011: 90,100
Source: Capgemini U.S. Metro Wealth Index
9. San Jose
Like Houston, a strong local industry performance helped move San Jose from the No. 10 spot to No. 9 this year around.
Since the recession, it's added more than 20,000 millionaires to its ranks, representing a nearly 30% surge.
Growth in millionaires over time:
2007: 80,700
2008: 69,500
2009: 86,500
2010: 88,800
2011: 90,700
Source: Capgemini U.S. Metro Wealth Index
8. Houston
Houston was one of the only cities on this year's list to see significant growth in high net worth individuals between 2010 and 2011, when millionaires grew by 2.1 percent.
Jean Lassignardie, chief sales and marketing officer at Capgemini chalks it up to "good performance of major local industries."
Growth in millionaires over time:
2007: 86,700
2008: 68,400
2009: 88,200
2010: 96,700
2011: 98,500
Source: Capgemini U.S. Metro Wealth Index
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