Global billionaires hit 3,000, controls $16trn in combined wealth
The global billionaire population has surpassed 3,000 for the first time, accumulating a net worth of $16 trillion—an increase of $2 trillion compared to last year, according to Forbes’ 2025 Billionaires List.
This enormous figure exceeds the GDP of every nation worldwide, except for the U.S. and China. The average net worth of billionaires has now reached $5.3 billion, which is an increase of $200 million from 2024.
The rankings indicate that the wealthiest individuals are achieving unprecedented levels of wealth. A historic 15 individuals now possess fortunes of $100 billion or more, with three of them exceeding the $200 billion mark. Collectively, these 15 billionaires hold $2.4 trillion—more than the combined wealth of the bottom 1,500 billionaires listed.
Notably, Africa's billionaire count has grown, now featuring 22 billionaires whose total net worth is $105 billion, up from 20 billionaires and $82.4 billion last year. Nevertheless, the United States still leads in billionaire numbers, with 902 individuals on the list, followed by China (including Hong Kong) with 516, and India with 205. Saudi Arabia has also returned to the list this year, with 15 billionaires, following a five-year absence since 2018.
Musk's wealth increased by $147 billion over the past year, propelled by SpaceX's leadership in the aerospace sector and advancements in AI through his company xAI. Meanwhile, the cooling of the luxury market has resulted in Bernard Arnault, the former top billionaire, slipping in the rankings.
The billionaire surge is not confined to the U.S. This year, the Forbes list features 3,028 individuals globally, an increase of 247 from the previous year. This is the first occasion that the billionaire count has exceeded 3,000.
Forbes' World’s Billionaires list, which is prepared based on net worth estimates as of March 7, 2025, highlights the wealthiest people on Earth. While some billionaires may have experienced shifts in their wealth since the list was finalized, Forbes notes that three additional billionaires were identified shortly after the list was completed—and it is likely that there are others yet to be included.
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