I always think those reports are bullshit, because they're snapshots, not the big picture.
I'll play. We're FI, I'm RE, DH still works. We have 800k in taxable and tax-deferred investments, including 401ks that we've rolled over from former employers. We have 300k in liquid capital, 'cause we like to flip and BRRR houses. Our home is paid for and Zillow thinks it's worth 1.3M, which is low, but who cares? We own multiple SFH rentals, all with cheap mortgages and strong equity.
DH has a great defined benefit pension plan coming. He also has a small 401k plan at work. It has about $80k in it. If you only look at his 401k balance, at age 55, OMG! The sky is falling! Big picture? We're in Fat City.
Reporting that more and more people are reaching their FIRE goals is simply not newsworthy. Being alarmist drives sheeple straight into the arms of "Financial Services" providers.