Survey finds 60% of affluent Americans would consider leaving US
Apex Capital Partners says high earners cite living costs, taxes and politics as reasons to look abroad within five years.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Six in 10 affluent Americans would consider moving out of the United States within five years, according to a May 2026 survey by Apex Capital Partners. The finding points to rising interest among high earners in second residences, citizenship options and overseas investments.
Apex, a firm that works on second citizenship and foreign investment programs, surveyed 1,733 Americans with household income above $200,000, Fortune reported. The company’s founder, Nuri Katz, told Fortune that demand from U.S. clients has risen sharply since the pandemic.
The top reason cited by respondents open to leaving was financial pressure. Apex said 68% pointed to cost of living and taxes, ahead of 54% who cited the political climate. Other reasons included health care access at 39%, public safety at 29% and education at 21%.
Katz told Fortune that the pattern differs from earlier years, when U.S. clients interested in moving abroad were more often driven by politics. He said the firm is now seeing interest from clients on the left and the right, with both groups worried about political instability.
Apex also found broad unease about the U.S. economy among the high-income respondents. Forty-two percent called the current economy weak or very weak, while 31% described it as strong or very strong and 27% were neutral.
Fortune compared the Apex findings with a Gallup poll from November that found about 20% of Americans overall wanted to permanently relocate abroad. Among households making more than $200,000, Apex’s figure was about three times higher.
Where affluent Americans are looking
Europe was the leading destination among respondents considering a move, Apex said. Forty-two percent named Europe, compared with 18% for Canada and 16% for the Caribbean. South America and Asia each drew 10%.
Fortune reported that Europe and the Caribbean both have programs that can give wealthy applicants residency or citizenship in exchange for qualified investments. Apex works in that field, which Katz described to Fortune as “investor immigration.”
Katz also warned that Europe may not meet all expectations. He told Fortune he expects some clients to look elsewhere, citing economic strain in parts of Europe and calling the European Union a “dysfunctional organization.”
Fortune noted that Portugal, once a popular option for Americans seeking a golden visa, ended its residential real estate route in 2024. The change helped shift attention to Caribbean programs that can offer a second passport in three to six months, according to Fortune.
The survey also found interest in moving money abroad. Nearly 63% of respondents said they had considered diversifying assets outside the United States, according to Apex.
Foreign policy concerns showed up in the results as well. Apex said three-quarters of respondents were concerned about the ongoing Iran War and America’s future, including nearly 44% who called it significantly concerning and 31% who said they were moderately concerned. About 10% said they were not concerned at all.
The story has a celebrity parallel. George Clooney and his family obtained French citizenship in 2025, Fortune reported. Clooney told Esquire he wanted his children away from Hollywood’s paparazzi culture and comparisons with other famous families.
Katz told Fortune that the rise in U.S. demand surprised him after three decades in the sector. He said the trend benefits his company but creates a problem for the United States.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.