Global billionaire count hits record 3,795 in 2025, Altrata says

September 4, 2026 at 07:19 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The number of dollar billionaires worldwide reached a record 3,795 in 2025, up 8.2% from a year earlier, according to Altrata's Billionaire Census 2026. Their combined wealth rose 12.8% to $15.1 trillion, driven by an investment boom around artificial intelligence. North America posted the fastest regional growth at 11.6%, reaching 1,337 billionaires.

Key Facts

The global billionaire population reached 3,795 in 2025, an 8.2% increase from 2024 and the fastest growth in five years.
Combined billionaire wealth rose 12.8% to a record $15.1 trillion, equivalent to nearly a quarter of the S&P 500's market capitalization at the time of the study.
Only 29 individuals hold fortunes above $50 billion, together controlling $4.1 trillion, or 27.2% of all billionaire wealth.
North America added billionaires at an 11.6% rate to reach 1,337, while Europe grew 7.9% to 1,081 and Asia 6.5% to 881.
The United States alone counted 1,265 billionaires in 2025, up 11.5% from the previous year.

Record Growth

Altrata's Billionaire Census 2026 recorded 3,795 dollar billionaires worldwide at the end of 2025, an increase of 287 people from the prior year. The 8.2% annual growth rate was the highest in five years, and the billionaire population has expanded by nearly 60% over the past decade. Total billionaire wealth climbed 12.8% to $15.1 trillion, a sum Altrata compared to almost a quarter of the S&P 500's market capitalization. The report attributed much of the expansion to an investment boom centered on artificial intelligence.

Wealth Concentration

The 29 individuals with fortunes above $50 billion together hold approximately $4.1 trillion, or 27.2% of all billionaire wealth. In 2017, only ten people belonged to that group, controlling 7.2% of total billionaire wealth. Altrata described the shift as the rise of an era of 'super-billionaires.' About 46% of billionaires have wealth between $1 billion and $2 billion, and another third hold between $2 billion and $5 billion. The average billionaire fortune is close to $4 billion, while the median is about $2 billion.

Regional Distribution

North America remained the largest billionaire hub, growing 11.6% to 1,337 individuals and accounting for about 35% of the global total. The region's combined billionaire wealth is estimated at $6.8 trillion. Europe's billionaire count rose 7.9% to 1,081, while Asia grew 6.5% to 881. The United States alone added billionaires at an 11.5% rate, reaching 1,265 people in 2025.