The world’s 500 wealthiest individuals saw their combined fortunes grow by an unprecedented $2.2 trillion in 2025, pushing their total net worth to nearly $12 trillion. This historic accumulation was fueled by strong performances across cryptocurrency, stock, and commodities markets, as well as political developments influencing investor confidence.
A small group of ultra-wealthy figures accounted for a disproportionate share of the gains. Eight billionaires alone were responsible for one-quarter of the total increase. Leading the expansion were figures from the technology and resources sectors, whose net worth climbed sharply over the year.
Among the most notable gains, one tech entrepreneur’s wealth rose by over $190 billion, while an Australian mining magnate nearly tripled her fortune through investments in rare-earth metals. Another software tycoon added close to $58 billion to his holdings.
Not all fortunes grew, however. One Asian property developer lost more than $12 billion after shares in his firm plummeted following a lengthy trading suspension.
The scale of this wealth accumulation has drawn criticism from anti-poverty campaigners. One international NGO pointed out that the $2.2 trillion increase alone would be sufficient to lift billions of people out of poverty globally. The group’s leadership described such extreme inequality as the result of policy decisions, warning that while private wealth reaches new heights, public resources are stagnating and debt burdens are rising in many parts of the world.