Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s Well being and Human Companies Secretary-designate, has revealed in monetary disclosures that he carries as much as $1.2 million in bank card debt.
His balances, ranging between $610,000 and $1.2 million, are charged at excessive rates of interest of 23.24% to 23.49%, studies CNBC.
Whereas Kennedy’s monetary scenario could seem extraordinary, consultants reportedly say excessive bank card debt just isn’t restricted to the rich.
Bank card balances throughout the U.S. have surged to a file $1.17 trillion in 2024, with many customers, together with high-income people, counting on credit score to handle bills amid rising costs, CNBC provides.
Matt Schulz, chief credit score analyst at LendingTree, factors out to CNBC that bank cards have change into a “de facto emergency fund” for a lot of Individuals as inflation squeezes their budgets.
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Monetary consultants emphasize that carrying excessive bank card balances is dear, CNBC writes. If Kennedy had been to repay his debt at $50,000 per 30 days, it may take as much as 33 months to repay the $1.2 million steadiness, incurring roughly $434,000 in curiosity.
In an interview to CNBC, Ted Rossman, senior analyst at Bankrate, calls Kennedy’s debt “really large” but additionally highlights that with vital earnings, such debt is puzzling.
For common customers, the common bank card debt per borrower stood at $6,380 in 2024, with an rate of interest of 20.13%, CNBC provides.
Consultants recommend accelerating debt reimbursement to cut back the burden of curiosity, which may rapidly accumulate.
Lowering bank card debt, they advise, is essential to monetary well being — for each the rich and on a regular basis Individuals.
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