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World's richest people got $2.2 trillion richer in 2025
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Wealth - Level 4
The world's richest people got richer in 2025. The bank UBS said the 500 richest people on Earth made an extra $2.2 trillion last year. Their collective net worth rose to $11.9 trillion. Bloomberg reported that the eight billionaires who topped the rich list accounted for a quarter of the gains in earnings. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies".
Many organizations were alarmed at so much wealth being in so few hands. The charity Oxfam said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is...declining....Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens." A climate scientist warned that "if the economic system that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will be".
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Wealth - Level 5
The world's richest people's wealth skyrocketed in 2025. The investment bank UBS said the 500 richest people on Earth made an extra $2.2 trillion last year. This increased their collective net worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight billionaires topped the mega-rich list. They accounted for a quarter of the gains in earnings. These included Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities and metals".
Many organizations were alarmed at there being so much wealth in so few hands. The charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity in wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is stagnating, even declining....Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." A climate scientist warned that "if the economic system that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will be".
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11 online activities | 8-page printable (PDF)
Wealth - Level 6
The world's richest people saw their wealth skyrocket in 2025. According to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people on Earth amassed an additional $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings increased their collective net worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires topped the mega-rich list and accounted for a quarter of the gains. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities and metals".
Many organizations were less than impressed at the accumulation of the world's wealth in so few hands. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity in wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is stagnating, even declining, and debt distress is growing. Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of 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".
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25 online activities | 27-page printable | 2-page mini-lesson
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