The world's richest people saw their wealth skyrocket 2025. According to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people Earth amassed an additional $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings increased their collective net worth $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires topped the mega-rich list and accounted a quarter of the gains. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets cryptocurrencies, equities and metals".
Many organizations were less than impressed the accumulation the world's wealth so few hands. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth the top, public wealth is stagnating, even declining, and debt distress is growing. Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights the majority citizens, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that "if the monstrous political-economic system that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will be".
