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A social media user criticizing capitalism got an unexpected response this week when billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban jumped into the debate (1) with a multi-paragraph defense.

The exchange began after X user @hashjenni (2) posted: “Capitalism is better than socialism because one man gets to be a trillionaire instead of everyone having healthcare.”

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The post appeared to catch Cuban’s attention.

“The reason anyone gets insanely rich is almost always because of the stock market,” Cuban replied. “And the reason they get rich from the stock market, is because 150m Americans decided they wanted to own shares of stocks directly, or through their retirement plans.”

Cuban argued that Americans aren’t merely spectators to the rise of billionaires like Elon Musk. Instead, he said millions of investors have helped create those fortunes through retirement plans, brokerage accounts, mutual funds and ETFs.

“One Hundred Fifty Million Americans. About 60% of adults,” Cuban wrote. “Effectively believing that Elon Musk and many billionaires could make them wealthier and help them achieve a better life.”

The billionaire went on to argue that reducing billionaire wealth by undermining stock ownership would ultimately hurt ordinary Americans.

“If you want Elon Musk, and most billionaires to no longer be that rich, convince those 150m to sell their stocks, funds, ETFs whatever,” Cuban wrote. “Of course you would wipe out the net-worth of most of those people.”

While Cuban’s comments focus on healthcare policy, his central message was aimed at investors: Ownership matters. That said, those ideas aren’t mutually exclusive. Supporting broader healthcare access doesn’t mean embracing socialism, nor does participating in the stock market beget financial security — let alone billionaire status.

Still, the same stock market that creates billionaire fortunes is also the primary way everyday Americans can build wealth.

According to Federal Reserve data (3) and recent Gallup polling (4), roughly 58% to 62% of Americans participate in the stock market, with some holding these investments indirectly through workplace retirement plans, pensions, IRAs and individual brokerage accounts.

To Cuban, those investors are part of the reason entrepreneurs and corporate leaders can build enormous fortunes in the first place.

“Capitalism is better than socialism because 150m Americans can influence exactly what happens in this country,” Cuban concluded.

For investors hoping to build wealth over the long term, the first step is often gaining ownership of productive assets (5) — assets that generate income. If you’re ready to take that step, you don’t have to look far to find the right tools to get started.

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One of Cuban’s central arguments is that ordinary Americans benefit from stock ownership alongside company founders and executives. According to research from Rutgers University (6), everyday employee-owners accumulate 92% more household wealth, earn 33% higher wages, and are 2.5 times less likely to be laid off during economic downturns than workers without equity.

And the beauty of ETF investing is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. You don’t even have to be an employee to take advantage of a publicly traded company’s success.

Small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, an app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: Link your cards, and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio. Over 30 years of investing, this could create a strong baseline for your retirement or give you a bit of a boost if you’re struggling to develop regular investing habits.

With Acorns, you can invest in a dividend ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey. All you have to do it set up a small monthly deposit to give your investments a boost.

Knowing which opportunities deserve your attention is another piece of the puzzle. It can be confusing to know which picks to pick; that’s why many investors rely on professional research rather than trying to sort through thousands of public companies themselves.

Moby offers expert research and recommendations to help you identify strong, long-term investments backed by advice from former hedge fund analysts.

In four years, and across almost 400 stock picks, their recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Moby’s team spends hundreds of hours sifting through financial news and data to provide you with stock and crypto reports delivered straight to you. Their research keeps you up to the minute on market shifts and can help reduce the guesswork in choosing stocks and ETFs.

Plus, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, helping you become a smarter investor in just five minutes.

While Cuban focused primarily on stock ownership, many wealthy investors build portfolios that include more than just publicly traded companies.

Real estate has long been one of the most popular alternative asset classes—in fact, Gallup (7) polling shows Americans have ranked it as the best long-term investment every year since 2013. This enduring popularity is largely due to its dual-engine return profile: According to sweeping historical data published in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (8), real estate has consistently generated strong long-term appreciation while simultaneously throwing off steady passive income via rental yields.

That’s where mogul comes in.

This real estate investment platform offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, giving investors access to monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and potential tax benefits — without the headaches of property management. That means no tenant management or calls over a faulty thermostat at the height of summer.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, mogul’s team handpicks top-tier opportunities nationwide, allowing investors to gain exposure to institutional-quality real estate that would otherwise be difficult to access.

Each property undergoes a vetting process that requires a minimum 12% return, even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10% and 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

Getting started is quick and easy. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.

Even investors who believe strongly in stocks often hold assets outside the market. Real estate is one oft-cited example, but there are other options as well if you want to protect yourself.

For example, gold has historically been used as a hedge against inflation, currency weakness and periods of economic uncertainty. Because precious metals tend to move differently than stocks, some investors use them to diversify their portfolios. This can make gold a strong store of value and a powerful wealth-preservation tool.

If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your broader investment strategy, a gold IRA from Goldco lets you hold physical gold and other metals while still getting the tax advantages of an IRA.

The company offers a guaranteed buyback program should investors decide to sell their metals in the future. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today to see whether precious metals might be a good fit for your portfolio.

Cuban’s broader message was that wealth creation comes from ownership. But deciding what to own, and how much of it, is where many single investors struggle. That’s why billionaires tend to work with specialized financial teams (9) to coordinate their wealth.

Unlike billionaires, though, the average American doesn’t need “a fleet of financial specialists” just to make sure your investments do well.

A single financial advisor can help crunch the numbers and build a plan that works.

But hiring an advisor can be a lifelong commitment, which might make or break your retirement. That’s why finding reliable advisors is crucial.

That’s where Advisor.com can help. The platform connects you with an expert near you for free.

Advisor.com does the heavy lifting for you, vetting advisors based on track record, client ratios and regulatory background. Plus, their network comprises fiduciaries, who are legally required to act in your best interests.

Just enter a few details about your finances and goals, and Advisor.com’s AI-powered matching tool will connect you with a qualified expert best suited for your unique financial goals and preferences.

Finding the right advisor isn’t always easy — there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why Advisor.com lets you set up a free initial consultation, with no obligation to hire, to see if they’re the right fit for you.

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@mcuban/ X (1), @hashjenni/ X (2); Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (3); Gallup (4), (7); Retipster (5); Rutgers University (6); Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (8); Business Insider (9)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.