Wealth intelligence firm Altrata said in a new report that the global billionaire population rose to a record 3,795 in 2025, up 8.2% from the previous year and marking the strongest increase in five years.
According to the report, rising stock markets, monetary stimulus and a surge in artificial intelligence investment drove a rapid expansion in ultra-wealthy fortunes. Total billionaire wealth increased 12.8% in 2025 to a record $15.1 trillion, equal to nearly one-quarter of the S&P 500’s total market value.
Altrata said this was the third consecutive year of accelerating billionaire wealth growth. Average wealth per billionaire reached $4 billion. At the same time, median net worth was closer to $2 billion, a gap the report said reflects how heavily wealth is concentrated among a small number of “super billionaires.”
North America led regional growth
By region, North America posted the fastest rise in billionaire numbers, up 11.6% to 1,337 people, or 35% of the global total. Europe recorded a second straight year of growth, rising nearly 8% to 1,081 people, representing 28% of the total.
Asia remained the world’s third-largest billionaire region. Its billionaire population increased 6.5% in 2025 to 881.
AI investment wave remained a key driver
The report said the AI investment boom has been one of the most important drivers of billionaire wealth creation since 2023, with its effect becoming more visible in 2025 and the first half of 2026.
Investor demand for generative AI, large language models, cloud computing and AI software attracted unprecedented amounts of capital and led to sharp revaluations in the market capitalizations of many technology companies. Because billionaire wealth is often concentrated in corporate equity holdings, founders and major shareholders of leading global tech companies became the biggest beneficiaries of the AI-led rise in technology stocks, which translated directly into major gains in personal net worth.
The item was published by Odaily, citing a report carried by Jiemian News.