Key facts
- Europe's ultra-rich population grew by 26% over the past five years, from 146,525 in 2021 to 183,953 in 2026.
- An average of 20.5 new UHNWIs joined Europe's ranks daily.
- Germany added the most UHNWIs daily in Europe, with an average of five new individuals per day.
- The US has the largest global UHNWI population with 251,352 individuals in 2026.
- Germany ranks third globally in UHNWI population, with 38,215 individuals.
Europe's population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), defined as those with at least $30 million in wealth, has seen a significant surge over the past five years. According to Knight Frank's Wealth Report 2026, the number of UHNWIs across the continent grew by 26%, rising from 146,525 in 2021 to 183,953 in 2026. This translates to an average daily increase of approximately 20.5 individuals joining this exclusive wealth bracket.
Germany recorded the highest daily increase in UHNWIs within Europe, with an average of five people crossing the $30 million threshold each day. The country's UHNWI population grew by 9,273 over the five-year period, reaching 38,215 in 2026. Switzerland followed with an average daily increase of 2.7 UHNWIs, and France added an average of 2.1 new members daily.
Other major European economies also saw growth, with the UK and Italy each adding 1.6 UHNWIs per day, and Spain adding 1.5. Globally, the US leads in UHNWI numbers with 251,352 individuals in 2026, followed by China with 121,677. Germany ranks third globally in UHNWI population. Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank, noted this as a significant shift in global wealth distribution, with rising strength from India and other maturing economies.