The world’s richest individuals are getting richer at a pace that is far faster than before. According to the latest Oxfam report, billionaire fortunes have grown three times faster in 2025 compared to the average annual growth rate of the previous five years.
At the same time, the total number of billionaires worldwide has crossed 3,000 for the first time. The total wealth of billionaires is at an all-time high. The report points out that in October 2025, Elon Musk became the first person in history to have wealth exceeding half a trillion dollars. While the total wealth of billionaires is increasing at a fast pace, people in many parts of the world are struggling to meet their basic needs.
Key Takeaways
- In 2025, billionaire wealth grew three times faster than the average annual growth rate of the previous five years.
- The number of billionaires has crossed 3,000 globally, and their total wealth is at a historic high.
- The world’s 12 richest billionaires hold more wealth than the poorest half of humanity, highlighting extreme wealth concentration.
Billionaire Wealth Is Growing Three Times Faster
In 2025, billionaire wealth increased three times faster than the average annual growth rate seen in the previous five years. This implies that billionaires’ wealth grows at a much faster pace than in previous years.
How U.S. Wealth Inequality Changed from 1965 to 2025
This is not restricted to one country or one geographical area. The billionaires in the US experienced some of the steepest increases in their wealth. The billionaires in other parts of the world also experienced strong double-digit growth.
The report links this increase in the billionaires’ wealth to the deregulation and tax systems that favor corporations. Such policies have contributed to the richest people accumulating more wealth at a faster rate.
The Rise in the Number of Billionaires
For the first time, the world now has more than 3,000 billionaires. Their combined wealth has reached historic levels. The report points out that billionaire wealth is now higher than at any previous time on record.
In October 2025, Elon Musk became the first person ever to exceed half a trillion dollars in wealth. This milestone shows how large individual fortunes have become. At the same time, nearly one in four people globally face hunger.
This shows how unevenly wealth is distributed in the world. While wealth at the top reaches new heights, a wider share of the global population struggles to meet basic needs.
How Concentrated Is Wealth Today?
The report also explains that countries with higher levels of inequality are up to seven times more likely to see damage to their democratic systems. In simple words, when the gap between the rich and the poor becomes very wide, democracy becomes weaker. Power slowly moves into the hands of fewer people.
Another striking figure shows that billionaires are over 4,000 times more likely to be in politics than the average person. This means that people who are extremely wealthy have a much higher chance of being in a position of power where policies are made. Their voice carries far more weight than the average citizen’s voice.
Additionally, the money gained by the world’s billionaires in just the last year alone would be enough to give every person on Earth 250 dollars. Even after giving that amount to everyone, billionaires would still remain 500 billion dollars richer.
The world’s 12 richest billionaires together hold more wealth than the poorest half of humanity. The poorest half includes more than four billion people. In other words, 12 individuals own more than the billions of people combined.
Conclusion
Oxfam’s report shows that the world is becoming more unequal each year. A small group of very rich people is gaining wealth much faster, while billions of others struggle to improve their lives. This growing gap not only affects money — it can also affect fairness, opportunity, and democracy.
