Billionaires report 2019

A relatively small number of entrepreneurs have been the agents of change, applying new technologies and business models. Now in its fifth year, the "Billionaires insights 2019" report, analyzes how entrepreneurs’ businesses have excelled. Long-term vision, smart risk-taking, business focus and determination have resulted in businesses' outperformance.

That is the “Billionaire effect”. Download the report to learn more.

Download Billionaires insights 2019: "The billionaire effect"

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Name of country

    Total number of billionaires

    0

    Total number of billionaires in the region for year highlighted below.

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    Self made billionaires

    00%

    Percentage of billionaires whose wealth is self-made as opposed to inherited.

    Total drop outs

    0

    Number of billionaires whose wealth has dropped below the $1bn threshold in 2018.

    Growth

    00

    Percentage growth in number of billionaires in the region in 2018 versus 2017.

    Total wealth

    $000.00

    Total combined wealth of all billionaires in the region (in USD billions) in 2018

    Compare years

    Billionaire data 2014

    Total number of billionaires

    1751

    Total number of billionaires globally in selected year.

    Wealth Development

    • 2.8tr Americas
    • 2.1tr APAC
    • 1.2tr EMEA
    • 1.2tr MSCI ACWI
    • Wealth development in USD by selected year.

    Total wealth

    • 2.8tr Self
      made
    • 2.1tr Multi-
      Generational

    Total wealth by type in USDbn in selected year.

    Growth driving in industries

    • 2.8tr Technology
    • 2.1tr Consumer and retail
    • 1.2tr Real estate

    Growth by industry in USD in selected year.

    Selected countries total wealth

    • 256 US
    • 277 RUSSIA
    • 502 CHINA

    Total wealth by region in USDbn for selected year.

    Infographics

    Billionaire-controlled companies outperform

    Over the 15 years to the end of 2018, billionaire-controlled companies listed on the equity market returned 17.8% versus the 9.1% of the MSCI ACWI, almost twice the annualized average performance of the market.

    Billionaires have distinct traits

    Three personality traits explain billionaires' success. Billionaires are smart risk-takers, business focused, and determined which benefit their businesses.

    Five strong years close with a dip

    From 2013-2018, billionaire wealth grew by 34.5%, reaching USD 8.5 trillion. However, billionaire wealth dropped in 2018 by 4.3%, or USD 388 billion.

    Philanthropic pioneers

    "Impact" has become the key word for these leading entrepreneurs, who engineer far-reaching change.

    The Athena factor

    Over the five years to the end of 2018, female billionaires increased by 46%, rising from 160 to 233. Meanwhile, the number of male billionaires grew by 39%.

    The rise of tech's titans

    Technology is the only industry where billionaire wealth increased in 2018, rising 3.4% to USD 1.3 trillion.