Billionaires Added Record $2.2 Trillion to Net Worth in 2025
The richest 500 individuals in the world increased their net worth by a record $2.2 trillion in 2025, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This surge raised the total combined wealth of the world's 500 richest people to $11.9 trillion.
Eight billionaires were responsible for about 25% of these gains, with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page leading the increase. Elon Musk's net worth alone grew by $190.3 billion, reaching $622.7 billion, while Larry Ellison's net worth rose by $57.7 billion to $249.8 billion. Gina Rinehart nearly tripled her wealth from $12.6 billion to $37.7 billion, driven by her investments in rare-earth metals.
In contrast, Manuel Villar experienced a decline, with his net worth falling by $12.6 billion to $10 billion due to a stock decline and a six-month trading suspension for Golden MV Holdings.
The wealth gains were supported by booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities, and metals, and were further bolstered by Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election.
Oxfam commented that the $2.2 trillion increase could have lifted approximately 3.8 billion people out of poverty, highlighting a concern that such inequality is seen as a deliberate policy choice. Notably, in 2024, eight billionaires accounted for 43% of the total gains, indicating an even higher concentration of wealth growth the previous year.
