Consumers
Global Billionaire Population Reaches 2,325 Individuals
by
Sophie Doran | September 17, 2014
According to the The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, 155 new billionaires were minted in 2014
According to the The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, 155 new billionaires were minted in 2014
The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, released today, shows that 155 new billionaires were minted this year, pushing the global population to a record 2,325 – a 7% rise from 2013.
The combined wealth of the world’s billionaires increased by 12% to US$7.3 trillion, which is higher than the combined market capitalisation of all the companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014 – the only comprehensive, global study on the composition and dynamics of this top tier of the global ultra high net worth (UHNW) population – shows that Europe, with 775 billionaires, is the region with the most billionaires and billionaire wealth (US$2.37 trillion).
North America – the region with the most billionaire wealth in 2013 – was overtaken by Europe in terms of billionaire wealth in this year’s census.
“ Europe, with 775 billionaires, is the region with the most billionaires and billionaire wealth ”
Asia, however, boasted the largest billionaire wealth increase, with the region’s billionaires’ fortunes growing by 18.7% over the past year. The region is responsible for 30% of the net increase in global billionaire wealth in 2014. Asia’s billionaire population grew by 10% in 2014, with 52 new entrants into the billionaire club – 33 are from China.
The United States maintains its position as the world’s top billionaire country with a population of 571 billionaires in 2014, followed by China (190) and the United Kingdom (130), which took the third spot from Germany (123) on the Top 40 Billionaire Countries/Territories list.
Key Findings:
• Europe is home to more than a third of the world’s billionaire population.
• Latin America and the Caribbean is the region that saw the most significant growth in terms of the size of its billionaire population (37.8%) in 2014, but Asia saw the fastest growth in billionaire wealth (18.7%).
• The billionaire population in the Middle East shrank by 1.9%, but total billionaire wealth in the region rose by 16.7%.
• The size of Africa’s billionaire population decreased by 4.8%, but the region’s billionaire wealth increased by 12.9%.
• There was no change in the billionaire population in the Pacific (34 billionaires), but the region’s total billionaire wealth dropped by 2%.
“ Asia boasted the largest billionaire wealth increase, growing by 18.7% ”
Fast Facts
• Nearly 35% of the world’s billionaires are concentrated in 20 cities. Billionaires are transnational. They move from city to city, rather than from country to country.
• Only 5% of the world’s billionaires are worth more than US$10 billion.
• The average billionaire‘s wealth rose by 4.4% this year to just over US$3.1 billion.
• The average age of the typical billionaire is 63, one year older than it was in 2013.
• There are 2,039 male billionaires in 2014, accounting for 87.7% of the world’s total billionaire wealth of US$7.3 trillion.
• There are 286 female billionaires in 2014, accounting for a 12.3% share of global billionaire wealth.
To further investigate wealth and affluence on Luxury Society, we invite your to explore the related materials as follows:
- UHNW Population Reaches All-Time High in 2013
- Luxury Executives Expect Growth From UHNW Segment in 2014
- Engaging UHNW Clients Through Bespoke Marketing
