“From preserving capital to empowering the next generation”: the new trend of the billionaires

The data of the report shows that in 2025, 196 self-made billionaires were added, in addition to 91 who inherited their wealth. Overall, the number of billionaires increased by 8.8%, from 2,682 to almost 3,000. Since the report began, this is the second largest annual increase. The first increase in size, by the way, was in 2021 after the Corona epidemic. This time, the growth was mainly due to business creation.

In general, the wealth of the billionaires who invested this year in the field of technology increased by 23.8%, compared to a slowdown in growth in the field of consumerism and bigotry (5.3%). Growth in industrial capital was the fastest, up 27.1% to $1.7 trillion, with more than a quarter of that amount coming from the new billionaires. Capital in the field of financial services increased by 17% to 2.3 trillion dollars.

The average wealth of women also continued to rise in 2025 – an increase of 8.4% to 5.2 billion dollars – more than double the growth rate of men. However, there are still 374 female billionaires today compared to 2,545 billionaires.

“A new generation is changing the global map”

As of the third quarter of 2025, the Swiss bank UBS manages assets amounting to 6.9 trillion, in more than 50 markets worldwide. As mentioned, the current report reviews billionaires and focuses on their wealth and ambitions. In addition, the global capital manager has recently conducted an online survey of billionaire clients registered in Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and the USA.

It seems that the main story of the report lies precisely in those who did not create their wealth themselves, but received it through inheritance. “In our research we see how the rise of a new generation of wealth creators and heirs is changing the global map,” said Benjamin Cavalli, head of strategic clients and global connectivity for UBS Global Wealth Management and co-head of EMEA One UBS. “As families become more international and the large transfer of capital accelerates, the focus shifts from capital preservation alone to empowering the next generation to succeed independently and responsibly. This affects not only succession planning, but also philanthropic priorities and long-term investment decisions.”

Thus, in the last year 91 heirs became billionaires, when they inherited a record amount of 297.8 billion dollars. In total, today about 860 multi-generational billionaires manage assets with a total value of $4.7 trillion. In general, the number of billionaires from the second generation increased this year by 4.6%, from the third generation their number increased by 12.3%, and from the fourth generation and above the number also increased by 10%.

Besides the numbers themselves, a survey conducted in the report also shows how family dynamics are changing. More than eight in ten billionaires with children expressed a desire for their children to succeed on their own, and they value developing skills more than relying on inherited capital. 43% of them still hope to see their children continue and develop the family business, brand or assets – to ensure the continuity of the family legacy.

Regarding the future – it is estimated that at least 5.9 trillion dollars will be inherited by 2040 – directly or indirectly through spouses. “The billionaire community is more diverse, mobile and innovative than ever before, concluded Cavalli. “The combination of an entrepreneurial spirit and the largest intergenerational transfer of capital in history creates new opportunities and challenges for families and capital managers alike.”

Israel also has more billionaires

When looking at the priorities of the billionaire investors, it is evident that North America remains the leading destination for investments (63%), followed by Western Europe (40%) and China (34%). Against a background of renewed confidence in Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region in general, 42% of billionaires plan to increase their exposure to emerging market stocks in the next 12 months.

Many of the billionaires also plan to increase exposure to private equity (direct investments and funds), hedge funds and infrastructure in the next 12 months. And what are they worried about? At the top of the list of worries for the coming year are the tariffs (66%), the significant geopolitical conflict (63%) and political uncertainty (59%).

And what about us? The number of billionaires in Israel in 2025 was 36, an increase of 13% compared to 32 in 2024. Of these, 83% made their fortune on their own. The total capital of the billionaires in Israel amounted to 108 billion dollars in 2025, an increase of 26.3% compared to a capital of 85.6 billion dollars in 2024.