Global Billionaire Population Experienced a Surge of 13.4% in 2020


“Billionaires account for an enormous – and rising – proportion of global wealth”

Wealth-X, the world’s leading provider of data and insight on the wealthy, today released the Billionaire Census 2021. The eighth edition of this report reveals that the global billionaire population grew by 13.4% in 2020 to 3,204. The 2021 edition of the Census marks the first time that the billionaire population has surpassed 3,000 individuals.

In a year of dramatic upheaval and polarizing trends in wealth generation, the Billionaire Census 2021 explores the global billionaire population and its wealth in 2020, presenting global wealth drivers, regional trends and a ranking of the leading billionaire countries and cities.

While less dramatic than population growth, the year over year increase in collective billionaire wealth increased 5.7% to US$10 trillion; a striking development given the upheaval of the pandemic and the deepest contraction in world economic output for a generation.

This year’s report also explores the 670 individuals that became billionaires in 2020 and the top 15 wealthiest billionaires across the globe.

Among the numerous key findings, the Billionaire Census 2021 reveals:

  • ‘New billionaires’ in 2020 are younger, less wealthy, comprise a higher proportion of entrepreneurs with a slightly greater focus on the technology and healthcare sectors than the rest of the billionaire population.
  • Almost half of the top 15 wealthiest billionaires’ fortunes stem from the technology sector; these businesses have benefitted from the rapid digitalization of the global economy and gains from scalability. The top 15 include Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, Bill Gates and more.
  • North America and Asia experienced the most dynamic population growth in 2020, an increase of 17.5% and 16.5% respectively.
  • Billionaires account for an enormous – and rising – proportion of global wealth.

Download the full report at https://bit.ly/3yXSevc to view the complete findings.

About Wealth-X

The global leader in wealth information and insight, Wealth-X partners with prestige brands across the financial services, luxury, nonprofit and higher-education industries to fuel strategic decision-making in sales, marketing, and compliance. Founded in 2010, with staff across North America, Europe and Asia, Wealth-X provides unique data, analysis, and counsel to a growing roster of over 500 clients, worldwide.

Wealth-X is a part of Euromoney People Intelligence, a divisional pillar of Euromoney PLC which provides organizations with unique data intelligence that connects them with the individuals who will have the greatest impact on their goals. Euromoney People Intelligence is comprised of four unique brands: BoardEx, RelSci, WealthEngine, and Wealth-X

Share article on social media or email:

Leave a Reply