Global Billionaire Record Broken: Who Holds the World's Wealth?
For the first time in history, the number of billionaires worldwide has exceeded 3,700. In 2025, their total wealth also reached a record high. However, the most interesting aspect is that wealth growth has not been uniform across all countries.
While the number of billionaires has surged in some nations, a tiny fraction of the world's wealthiest individuals has begun to control an increasingly large share of total capital.
Number of billionaires reaches record high
According to Altrata's Billionaire Census, the number of billionaires globally increased by 8.2 percent in 2025, reaching 3,795 individuals.
This is the highest figure in the history of the study.
The total wealth of billionaires has grown accordingly:
Indicator | Result |
|---|---|
Number of billionaires | 3,795 |
Annual growth | +8.2% |
Total wealth | $15.1 trillion |
Wealth growth | +12.8% |
Thus, the total capital of the world's billionaires has exceeded $15 trillion in a single year.
Number of billionaires in Russia increased by 18 percent
Russia also secured one of the top spots in the ranking.
In 2025, the number of billionaires in the country increased by 18 percent to 151.
This figure places Russia fourth in the global ranking of countries with the most billionaires.
However, the gap with the country in first place is significant.
USA is far ahead of others
Nearly one-third of the world's billionaires live in the USA.
In 2025, the country recorded 1,265 billionaires . This figure has increased by 11.5 percent in one year.
Following are:
China — 363 (+13.1%);
Germany — 221 (+20.1%);
Russia — 151 (+18%);
India — 132 (+3.9%).
The growth in Germany is particularly noteworthy. The country showed the highest growth rate among the top 15 nations by number of billionaires.
Who holds the greatest wealth?
The increase in the number of billionaires is a notable figure in itself. But another metric in the study better illustrates the scale of economic inequality.
In 2025, the total wealth of global billionaires grew by 12.8 percent to reach $15.1 trillion.
However, the distribution of this wealth is becoming increasingly uneven.
The 29 wealthiest individuals on the planet control 27 percent of the total wealth of all billionaires.
Interestingly, in 2017, this figure was only 7 percent .
This means the share of wealth held by a tiny fraction of the richest people has nearly quadrupled in a few years.
Why is billionaire wealth growing so fast?
Study analysts point to the sharp increase in investments directed toward artificial intelligence as one of the main factors for this growth.
In recent years, the rising interest in AI technologies has influenced the valuation of tech companies and boosted the wealth of their founders and investors.
At the same time, changes in global stock markets, the technology sector, and other asset values directly impact billionaire capital.
What is the trend behind the record?
The 2025 statistics reveal a larger picture than simple numbers.
On one side, the number of billionaires is reaching record levels. On the other, the share of total wealth held by the richest individuals is growing ever larger.
The clearest evidence of this is that the 29 wealthiest billionaires own 27 percent of the $15.1 trillion total wealth.
In 2017, their share was 7 percent.
Therefore, the most important figure of the 2025 results may not be 3,795, but another indicator:
billionaires are increasing, but immense wealth is becoming concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people.
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