Billionaires Added Record $2.2 Trillion in Wealth in 2025
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the world’s 500 richest individuals collectively gained a record $2.2 trillion in 2025, increasing their total net worth to $11.9 trillion. Eight billionaires were responsible for about 25% of the year's gains, with top leaders including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. Elon Musk’s net worth grew by $190.3 billion to $622.7 billion, while Larry Ellison’s increased by $57.7 billion to $249.8 billion. Gina Rinehart’s net worth nearly tripled, rising from $12.6 billion to $37.7 billion, boosted by her portfolio in rare-earth metals. In contrast, Manuel Villar experienced a significant loss as his net worth fell by $12.6 billion to $10 billion following an 80% drop in Golden MV Holdings Inc shares amid a six-month trading suspension.
The significant wealth gains were driven by booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities, and metals, with Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory cited as a contributing factor. Oxfam highlighted that the $2.2 trillion rise in billionaire wealth could have lifted approximately 3.8 billion people out of poverty. Amitabh Behar commented on the situation, stating that inequality is a deliberate policy choice as broader public wealth stagnates.
Notably, in 2024, the same eight billionaires accounted for 43% of the total gains among the world’s 500 richest, indicating that wealth concentration was more pronounced the previous year than in 2025. A photo accompanying the report shows a protest by the group 'Trillionaires for Trump' outside the IRS on tax day, 15 April 2025.
