Global Billionaire Count Hits Record 3,000, Collective Wealth Soars to $18.3 Trillion: Oxfam
Key Takeaways:
- Number of billionaires reached a historic 3,000 in 2025.
- Their combined wealth hit $18.3 trillion, up $3.3 trillion since 2020.
- Wealth of top five billionaires more than doubled since 2020.
- Oxfam warns it could take 230 years to end poverty at current pace.
The world’s billionaire population has surged to an unprecedented 3,000, with their combined fortunes swelling to a staggering $18.3 trillion in 2025, according to a new Oxfam report. The findings, released ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, reveal a dramatic acceleration in wealth concentration.
Wealth Growth Outpaces Inflation Threefold
Oxfam’s ‘Inequality Inc.’ report states that billionaire wealth has grown three times faster than inflation since 2020, increasing by $3.3 trillion. The fortunes of the top five billionaires have more than doubled in this period.
The report paints a stark picture of global disparity, noting that at the current rate of progress, it would take 230 years to eradicate poverty.
Calls for Taxing the Super-Rich
Oxfam has issued a strong call for government intervention to tackle this widening chasm. The NGO advocates for significantly higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy and large corporations.
“Governments must step up. They must tax the super-rich and corporations more heavily, and invest in public services and social protection for all,” Oxfam International interim Executive Director Amitabh Behar said.
Massive Gender Wealth Gap Persists
The report also highlights a profound gender imbalance in global wealth. It notes that men hold $105 trillion more wealth than women, underscoring another dimension of economic inequality.
The analysis is based on data from Forbes and the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook.
