Key facts
- Global billionaire wealth increased by 13% in the past year, reaching 3,302 individuals.
- The surge was largely attributed to the artificial intelligence boom and tech market rallies.
- The UK experienced the most significant fall in wealth among developed nations since the pandemic.
- Average wealth for UK residents has declined by over 20% in real terms over the last five years.
- Elon Musk briefly achieved trillionaire status after SpaceX's IPO.
Global billionaire wealth experienced a significant surge of 13% last year, largely propelled by the artificial intelligence boom and rallies in both public and private tech markets. According to a study by UBS, nearly 400 new billionaires were created in 2025, bringing the global total to 3,302. This surge in billionaire wealth, which rose by approximately 25%, significantly outpaced the 10.8% increase in average global wealth.
Elon Musk briefly attained the status of the world's first trillionaire following the record-breaking initial public offering of SpaceX, which was valued at $1.8 trillion at its market debut. SpaceX shares rallied nearly 40% in their initial trading days, contributing to Musk's temporary wealth milestone.
However, the report also highlighted a stark contrast for the United Kingdom, which has suffered the largest fall in overall wealth levels of any developed nation since the pandemic began. The average UK resident has seen their wealth decline by more than a fifth in real terms over the past five years, a greater decrease than in any of the 37 countries assessed. This decline is partly attributed to a disproportionate amount of UK household wealth being tied to the property market, which has remained largely stagnant. Furthermore, billionaire wealth in Britain is also reportedly declining, coinciding with an exodus of high-net-worth individuals seeking lower tax jurisdictions.