Overview
- UBS reports 91 heirs became billionaires in the 12 months to April, inheriting about $298 billion in the largest annual transfer since tracking began in 2015.
- Global billionaire wealth hit a record $15.8 trillion as the population rose to roughly 2,900, with 196 self‑made newcomers adding about $386.5 billion.
- The UAE and Saudi Arabia led regional gains, with UAE billionaire wealth rising to about $168.7 billion and Saudi Arabia more than doubling to $81 billion.
- Mobility is reshaping concentrations of wealth, as 36% of billionaires have relocated at least once, citing quality of life, geopolitics and tax efficiency, with Dubai, Singapore, London and New York favored.
- Women’s average wealth grew 8.4% to $5.2 billion versus 3.2% for men at $5.4 billion, and UBS forecasts at least $5.9 trillion will pass to billionaire children over the next 15 years.