Billionaire Facts & Stats

click the questions to see the answers

How many billionaires are there?

As of 2022 there were 3,194 billionaires in the world
-
source: Statista

How much do they own?

Circa $14.2 trillion in aggregate (2024)
- source:
Forbes

What is the Total Global Wealth?

Total global wealth was estimated at $454.4 trillion in 2023

Where do the billionaires live?

Top countries by number of billionaires (2024):

  • United States: 813 billionaires
  • China: 473 billionaires
  • India: 200 billionaires
  • Germany: 163 billionaires
  • source: Forbes Billionaires List

Is billionaire wealth increasing?

Yes, billionaire wealth has been increasing significantly:

  • The combined wealth of billionaires grew by over $1.5 trillion between 2023 and 2024
  • The number of billionaires reached a new record in 2024
  • Their share of global wealth continues to rise year over year
  • source: Forbes Billionaires List 2024

Based on current data and trends:

  • Billionaires currently own about $14.2 trillion out of $454.4 trillion total global wealth (approximately 3.1%)
  • Their wealth grew by $1.5 trillion in just one year (2023-2024)
  • At this rate of growth (assuming global wealth stays constant), it would take approximately 147 years before billionaires would own half of the world's wealth
  • However, this is a simplified calculation that doesn't account for:

    • Changes in global wealth
    • Compound growth effects
    • Economic cycles and market fluctuations
    • Policy changes and wealth redistribution efforts
  • Therefore, this timeline could be significantly shorter or longer depending on these factors

The richest 1.5 own almost 48% of the World’s wealth

References