According to the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, released yesterday, 155 new billionaires were minted this year, pushing the global population to a record 2,325 – a 7% rise from 2013.
The combined wealth of the world's billionaires increased by 12% to US$7.3 trillion, which is higher than the combined market capitalization of all the companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014 – the only comprehensive, global study on the composition and dynamics of this top tier of the global ultra-high net worth (UHNW) population – shows that Europe, with 775 billionaires, is the region with the most billionaires and billionaire wealth (US$2.37 trillion). North America – the region with the most billionaire wealth in 2013 – was overtaken by Europe in terms of billionaire wealth in this year's census.
Asia, however, boasted the largest billionaire wealth increase, with the region's billionaires' fortunes growing by 18.7% over the past year. The region is responsible for 30% of the net increase in global billionaire wealth in 2014. Asia's billionaire population grew by 10% in 2014, with 52 new entrants into the billionaire club – 33 are from China.
The United States maintains its position as the world's top billionaire country with a population of 571 billionaires in 2014, followed by China (190) and the United Kingdom (130), which took the third spot from Germany (123) on the Top 40 Billionaire Countries/Territories list
The census – which looks at the global billionaire population from July 2013 to June 2014 – examines this top-tier wealth segment by geographical location, gender, sources of wealth and personal traits.
"Wealth-X is pleased to partner with UBS for a second consecutive year to produce the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census," Wealth-X CEO Mykolas Rambus said.
"Expert commentary from UBS complements Wealth-X's global intelligence on the world's billionaire population, producing a report that demonstrates a true collaboration between the global leader in wealth management and the world's leading UHNW intelligence provider.
"UBS has served some of the world's most successful families for more than 150 years and, today, more than half of the world's billionaires are clients.
"The second Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census is the most comprehensive study of its kind and provides unparalleled insights into this sophisticated and global client segment. Its findings, for example, that billionaires increased their liquid holdings last year and that entrepreneurialism is key to their wealth, correspond with the feedback from discussions with our clients," said Simon Smiles, CIO for UHNW, UBS Wealth Management.
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