Billionaires around the world have certainly made the most of their year.
According to the UBS Billionaire Ambition report, the wealth of the world’s richest group is a record $15.8 trillion in 2025. This sky-high figure was boosted considerably by a new influx of self-made billionaires. Just over 190 individuals hit the $1 billion mark this year, adding a total of $386.5 billion to their net worth, marking the second-highest annual increase ever recorded by the firm. Overall, the number of billionaires will increase by 8.8 percent from 2,682 to 3,000 worldwide in 2024, the report said, driven by “business success.”
Billionaires from across the US and Asia-Pacific lead the pack in terms of investments this year. And while those dipping their toes into tech saw their wealth grow by 23.8 percent, those interested in the consumer side of things saw less success, seeing their net worth increase by just 5.3 percent. The retail market struggled somewhat this year, especially with a sluggish luxury market overall, but it’s still the largest sector at $3.1 trillion. Industrial wealth took home the top spot for the fastest growth, increasing 27.1 percent to a total of $1.7 trillion. North America also maintained its position as a top investment destination this year, with 63 percent of billionaires declaring it as their preferred region to put their funds into, despite market volatility.
Women in particular saw their fortunes hit $5.2 billion, an increase of 8.4 percent. Meanwhile, men increased their wealth by 3.2 percent, totaling $5.4 billion. And although there are only 374 female billionaires, compared to 2,545 male billionaires, this group has outpaced their male counterparts in wealth accumulation four of the past four years.
“The billionaire community is more diverse, mobile and forward-thinking than ever before. The combination of entrepreneurial drive and the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history is creating new opportunities and challenges for families and wealth managers alike,” said Benjamin Cavalli, head of strategic client and global communications at UBS, in a press statement.
Speaking of families, 2025 also saw a lot of succession planning done. In fact, fortune transfers are on the rise, as 91 heirs worldwide have been recorded this year, 36 percent more than the number in 2024. About 8,860 multi-generational billionaires are now in charge of $4.7 trillion in assets, compared to just 805 individuals overseeing $4.1 trillion.
Many billionaires have moved over the years, with 36 percent of them saying they’ve moved at least once in 2025. As people cited better living standards, greater geopolitical concerns, and the ability to manage their tax affairs more efficiently. And some countries are making the decision easier for billionaires. For example, it has recently become much easier to move to New Zealand for wealthy Americans who want to escape the struggles of the States. There are also plenty of golden visas for billionaires to check out, should they decide to make the international move in 2026.
