Homeowners in America are worth 40 times more than renters, yet financial experts increasingly claim buying a home is a bad investment. David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire, dismantles this myth, explaining why $34 trillion in home equity—combined with forced savings and tax advantages—makes homeownership a wealth-building cornerstone that renting simply cannot replicate, regardless of short-term cost comparisons. Homeowners have average net worth of $400,000 versus renters at $10,000, with 50% of long-term homeowners' wealth concentrated in home equity rather than stock market investments.