- Innovation and Inheritance Push Global Billionaire Wealth to Record $15.8 Trillion
ZURICH – Global billionaire wealth reached an all-time high of $15.8 trillion in 2025, driven by a combination of entrepreneurial innovation and the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history.
The findings were released on December 4, 2025, in the 11th UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report.
The report, which surveyed billionaire clients worldwide, states that the total number of billionaires grew by 8.8% to nearly 3,000 people. This increase was fueled by 196 self-made billionaires who added $386.5 billion to global wealth through business creation, particularly in the United States and the Asia-Pacific region. Key growth sectors included industrials, which saw wealth rise 27.1%, and technology, which increased by 23.8%.
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Concurrently, a historic inheritance wave is accelerating. In 2025, 91 heirs inherited a record $297.8 billion, 36% more than the previous year. This trend has boosted the number of multi-generational billionaires to 860, who collectively control $4.7 trillion in assets.
According to UBS, this generational shift is reshaping investment priorities and family dynamics, with a greater focus on empowering heirs to succeed independently and make a positive social impact. Despite market volatility, North America remains the top investment destination. However, billionaires also cited geopolitical conflict and tariffs as their primary concerns for the coming year.
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