According to a report by wealth intelligence firm Altrata, the global billionaire population reached an unprecedented 3,795 individuals in 2025, representing an 8.2% increase and the largest annual jump in five years. The combined wealth of this group rose 12.8% to $15.1 trillion, setting another record.
The dramatic wealth expansion was substantially fueled by the artificial intelligence sector boom. Analysis of 150 publicly listed companies identified as major wealth drivers showed that firms investing at least $30 million in AI over the preceding five years outperformed non-AI-focused companies by 23% in market capitalization growth during the 2024 to 2025 period.
The concentration of AI-related wealth has created a widening gap within the billionaire ranks. Altrata identified 29 superbillionaires with net worth exceeding $50 billion, collectively holding $4.1 trillion or 27% of all billionaire wealth. This represents significant concentration compared to 2017, when only 10 superbillionaires existed and represented 7.2% of total billionaire wealth.
Regional growth varied across major billionaire populations. North America, home to 1,337 billionaires, experienced the fastest expansion at 11.6% growth, attributed to U.S. dominance in tech markets. Europe’s billionaire population reached 1,081 after a 7.9% increase, while Asia’s population grew 6.5% to 881 individuals.
Analysts cautioned that while market gains were substantial, the concentration of billionaire wealth in technology and AI sectors presents risks. Market volatility in chip stocks and tech equities has created significant swings in paper wealth for major billionaires. The report noted that 2025 proved unusually favorable across all major asset classes tracked, representing the first year since the pandemic when all tracked classes delivered positive returns.
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