Liberal comedian Bill Maher weighed in on “Burritogate” to question whether Gen Z is actually facing an affordability crisis.
News of a $20 burrito was used to illustrate the skyrocketing prices that are supposedly keeping the younger generations in poverty, but Maher dug into the numbers and pointed out some key context missing from the outrage-bait burrito story.
Watch:
Bill Maher pulls the numbers on whether Gen Z is really suffering an affordability crisis.
He starts with the $20 burrito, then compares their net worth to previous generations. The numbers are staggering.
MAHER: “Have you heard about Burrito Gate? … A student had… pic.twitter.com/CIRzJr4Qoi
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 15, 2026
“A student had commented, ‘A burrito shouldn’t cost $20,” Maher said to his panel. “And it turns out, we did some research on this, and it shouldn’t cost $20 because it doesn’t. It costs $20 because this kid factored in somebody bringing it to him in an Uber.”
“You can get one for $2, and you could buy it in the supermarket. And somebody said they feed a family of eight on $20 by buying ingredients like we used to do,” he jabbed. “This is from the Fed. Okay, two-thirds of Americans consider groceries to be unaffordable. Maybe they are, but wages rose in the last decade, including the pandemic, 46%. Food prices rose 34%. So wages outpaced them by the numbers.”
“What we spend on food at the beginning of the last century, it was 42% of the budget, and then you go through the years, 1965, it was down to 15%. Now it’s under 10%, but including eating out more,” he continued. “Also, Gen Z, I never realized this until people started writing about it. As they reach their late 20s now, they’re getting much richer than Gen X was. Millennials and Gen Z at age 30, their net worth is around $118,000. Gen X’s was $53,000, like half of that. But Gen X never complained. You gotta love Gen X. They are the quietest f**king church mice.”
X users reacted to Maher’s point:
And get their nails, hair, and eyelashes done while holding their lattes.
Protein shakes, facials and massages.
Lip fillers, Botox and subscriptions to Netflix, Hello Fresh, Audible, Prime etc.
Travel and entertainment industry.
Housing is a problem, but the rest? Entitled
— Nadine Lovell (@NadineHIKE) August 15, 2026
We wouldn’t even think about having anything delivered when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s because it was cost prohibitive. Now all the lazy ass people think food should just magically appear and be affordable. Has never worked that way.
— Small Elle (@SmallElle) August 15, 2026
He’s 100% right. The problem isn’t about how much money you have, but how much you spend. My youngest who is 36, earns above $100k working for a grocery store and he’s not a store manager! I, at his age was probably making $50-60k.
— Gothicus 🇺🇸 🐸 ✝️ 🎃 (@gothicreader) August 15, 2026
The level of entitlement among many younger folks I see is incredible. That is especially true of those who grew up well-off and now take everything for granted.
— 718 (@rhs718) August 15, 2026
Americans also overeat, and eat overly processed (more expensive) food. Constant snacks, canned drinks, too large portions adds up and is wasteful spending.
— eawsouth (@eawsouth) August 15, 2026
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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