Skip to main content
- ›
- Economy
A billionaire is a person whose wealth is worth at least one billion units of a given currency, usually a major currency such as U.S. dollar or Euro. In 2022, the highest geographical concentration of billionaires was in North America. However, China was the country with the biggest billionaire population worldwide, and its capital, Beijing, was the city with the most billionaires in the same year.
Wealth distribution
While there were a total of 3,194 billionaires worldwide in 2022, a high number of the world's population owns less than 10,000 U.S. dollars. As a result, nearly half of the world's wealth is owned by the richest percent, highlighting the issue of global inequality. Moreover, whereas Switzerland and the United States have the highest average wealth per adult, Luxembourg and Norway are the countries with the highest GDP per capita worldwide, underlining that a high presence of actual wealth does not necessarily mean a high level of wealth distribution. Looking at wealth distribution among the world's billionaires, 15 persons had fortunes of 50 billion U.S. dollars or more. However, billionaires with fortunes between two and five billion U.S. dollars had the highest combined wealth in 2021.
Demographics of billionaires: A majority of older men
Most billionaires are self-made. However, there is a significant difference between male and female billionaires: Whereas a majority of the former were self-made, close to half of the latter had inherited their fortune. When taking a closer look at the demographics of billionaires globally, about 88 percent were men in 2022. Only about 10 percent of the billionaires worldwide were younger than 50 years old. As of April 2023, 18-year-old Clemente Del Vecchio was the youngest billionaire globally.
Major billionaire industries
While this is not necessarily the industry from which the billionaires earn their fortune, nearly one fourth of the world's billionaires between 50 and 70 years devote most of their time to banking and financing. There are also differences between billionaires concerning from where the assets allocation; more than 60 percent of the wealth of billionaires below 50 years derived their wealth from public holdings, while the same was the case for around 40 percent of those above 50 years. In the period between April and July 2020, billionaires operating within industrials saw the highest increase of their wealth.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Einar H. Dyvik Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics 
Key insights
- Number of billionaires worldwide
- 3,194
Detailed statistics
Global billionaire population by region 2022
- Number of billionaires in China, the country with the highest billionaire population worldwide
- 969
Detailed statistics
Top 20 billionaire countries 2024
- Richest person in the world
- Elon Musk
Detailed statistics
Leading billionaires worldwide 2024
Get more insights
Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic
Further recommended statistics
Overview
5
- Premium Statistic Leading billionaire cities 2023
- Basic Statistic Global billionaire population by region 2022
- Basic Statistic Age distribution of billionaires globally 2022
- Premium Statistic Value added to the wealth of the world's leading billionaires during pandemic 2021
- Premium Statistic Number of billionaire dropouts 2010-2019
Overview
- Premium Statistic Leading billionaire cities 2023
Leading billionaire cities 2023
Leading cities with the most billionaires in 2023
- Basic Statistic Global billionaire population by region 2022
Global billionaire population by region 2022
Number of billionaires worldwide in 2022, by region
- Basic Statistic Age distribution of billionaires globally 2022
Age distribution of billionaires globally 2022
Age distribution of billionaires globally in 2022
- Premium Statistic Value added to the wealth of the world's leading billionaires during pandemic 2021
Value added to the wealth of the world's leading billionaires during pandemic 2021
Value added to the net worth of the world's leading billionaires during the COVID-19 pandemic from September 2019 to September 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Number of billionaire dropouts 2010-2019
Number of billionaire dropouts 2010-2019
Number of people no longer part of billionaire population worldwide from 2010 to 2019
Wealth distribution
7
- Basic Statistic Number of billionaires worldwide by wealth source 2022
- Basic Statistic Leading billionaires worldwide 2024
- Premium Statistic Wealth distribution of billionaires around the world 2022
- Basic Statistic Total wealth distribution of billionaires around the world 2021
- Basic Statistic Worldwide wealth distribution by net worth of individuals 2022
- Premium Statistic Share of the global wealth held by the richest percent 2010-2022
- Basic Statistic U.S. the richest people in America 2024
Wealth distribution
- Basic Statistic Number of billionaires worldwide by wealth source 2022
Number of billionaires worldwide by wealth source 2022
Number of billionaires around the world in 2022, by wealth source and age group
- Basic Statistic Leading billionaires worldwide 2024
Leading billionaires worldwide 2024
The world's leading billionaires as of July 2024, based on net worth (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Wealth distribution of billionaires around the world 2022
Wealth distribution of billionaires around the world 2022
Wealth distribution of billionaires around the world in 2022
- Basic Statistic Total wealth distribution of billionaires around the world 2021
Total wealth distribution of billionaires around the world 2021
Total wealth distribution of billionaires around the world in 2021 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Basic Statistic Worldwide wealth distribution by net worth of individuals 2022
Worldwide wealth distribution by net worth of individuals 2022
Global wealth distribution in 2022, by net worth of individuals (in millions)
- Premium Statistic Share of the global wealth held by the richest percent 2010-2022
Share of the global wealth held by the richest percent 2010-2022
Share of the global wealth held by the richest percent from 2010 to 2022
- Basic Statistic U.S. the richest people in America 2024
U.S. the richest people in America 2024
Estimated net worth of the 20 richest people in the United States in 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Gender and age of billionaires
6
- Premium Statistic Distribution of billionaires worldwide 2022, by gender
- Basic Statistic Most affluent women worldwide 2024, by net worth
- Basic Statistic Youngest billionaires globally 2023, by net worth
- Basic Statistic Richest self-made women in the United States 2024, based on net worth
- Premium Statistic U.S. distribution of billionaires 2022, by gender
- Premium Statistic Source of billionaire's wealth worldwide in 2020, by gender
Gender and age of billionaires
- Premium Statistic Distribution of billionaires worldwide 2022, by gender
Distribution of billionaires worldwide 2022, by gender
Distribution of billionaires around the world in 2022, by gender
- Basic Statistic Most affluent women worldwide 2024, by net worth
Most affluent women worldwide 2024, by net worth
Wealthiest women worldwide as of June 2024, by net worth (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Basic Statistic Youngest billionaires globally 2023, by net worth
Youngest billionaires globally 2023, by net worth
Youngest billionaires in the world as of April 2023, based on net worth (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Basic Statistic Richest self-made women in the United States 2024, based on net worth
Richest self-made women in the United States 2024, based on net worth
Richest self-made women in the United States in 2024, based on net worth (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic U.S. distribution of billionaires 2022, by gender
U.S. distribution of billionaires 2022, by gender
Distribution of billionaires in the United States in 2022, by gender
- Premium Statistic Source of billionaire's wealth worldwide in 2020, by gender
Source of billionaire's wealth worldwide in 2020, by gender
Source of wealth for billionaires worldwide in 2020, by gender
Regional distribution
7
- Premium Statistic Number of ultra high net worth individuals 2021, by region
- Premium Statistic Ultra high net worth individuals 2022, by country
- Premium Statistic Share of the world's billionaires by region 2022
- Premium Statistic Number of billionaires in Europe in 2022, by country
- Premium Statistic Wealth of billionaires around the world by region 2022
- Premium Statistic Countries with the highest wealth per adult 2022
- Basic Statistic U.S. the richest people in America 2024
Regional distribution
- Premium Statistic Number of ultra high net worth individuals 2021, by region
Number of ultra high net worth individuals 2021, by region
Number of ultra high net worth individuals in 2021, by region
- Premium Statistic Ultra high net worth individuals 2022, by country
Ultra high net worth individuals 2022, by country
Number of ultra high net worth individuals in selected countries in 2022
- Premium Statistic Share of the world's billionaires by region 2022
Share of the world's billionaires by region 2022
Share of the world's billionaires in 2022, by region
- Premium Statistic Number of billionaires in Europe in 2022, by country
Number of billionaires in Europe in 2022, by country
Number of billionaires in selected European countries in 2022
- Premium Statistic Wealth of billionaires around the world by region 2022
Wealth of billionaires around the world by region 2022
Total wealth of billionaires around the world in 2022, by region (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Premium Statistic Countries with the highest wealth per adult 2022
Countries with the highest wealth per adult 2022
Countries with the highest average wealth per adult worldwide in 2022 (in U.S. dollars)
- Basic Statistic U.S. the richest people in America 2024
U.S. the richest people in America 2024
Estimated net worth of the 20 richest people in the United States in 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Major billionaire industries
4
- Premium Statistic Growth of billionaire wealth globally during COVID-19 pandemic, by industry
- Premium Statistic Primary industries of billionaires worldwide 2022, by age
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of the average billionaire's wealth worldwide 2022, by assets and age
- Basic Statistic Most affluent people in the tech industry worldwide 2024, by net worth
Major billionaire industries
- Premium Statistic Growth of billionaire wealth globally during COVID-19 pandemic, by industry
Growth of billionaire wealth globally during COVID-19 pandemic, by industry
Development of billionaire wealth worldwide from April to July 2020, by industry
- Premium Statistic Primary industries of billionaires worldwide 2022, by age
Primary industries of billionaires worldwide 2022, by age
Primary industries* of billionaires around the world in 2022, by age group
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of the average billionaire's wealth worldwide 2022, by assets and age
Breakdown of the average billionaire's wealth worldwide 2022, by assets and age
Breakdown of the average billionaire's wealth around the world in 2022, by asset allocation and age
- Basic Statistic Most affluent people in the tech industry worldwide 2024, by net worth
Most affluent people in the tech industry worldwide 2024, by net worth
Wealthiest individuals in the technology industry worldwide as of January 2024, by net worth (in billion U.S. dollars)
Get the best reports to understand your industry
Contact
Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
support@statista.com
Tel
+1 914 619-5895
Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
asia.support@statista.com
Tel
+65 6995 6959
Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
asia.support@statista.com
Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
eu.support@statista.com
Tel
+44 (0)20 8189 7000
Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
latam@statista.com
Tel
+1 212 419-5774
Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)
Yes, let me download!
...and make my research life easier.
