Riches of the affluent have reached an all-time high.
Let's dive into the ever-growing wealth of the rich, shall we?
And They're Not Stopping The world's wealthiest individuals are going strong, baby! According to Capgemini's annual Global Wealth Report, the total wealth of the rich has soared by a staggering 4.2% in just one year—and that number keeps climbing. But here's the kicker: while the river of gold flows in Germany, it's drying up elsewhere.
The Rich List Goes On You guessed it—the number of rich individuals surpasses any previous record, with a whopping 23.4 million dollar millionaires walking among us in 2024. The name of the game? The ultra-rich, with more than 30 million smackers to their name, represent the majority of the increase.
America's Millionaire Boom Hold on to your hats, because the USA has reported the most significant growth, boasting an additional 562,000 millionaires—a whopping 7.6% increase. Strap on those shades, because the USA now has nearly eight million millionaires on its roster. So why the cash explosion? It's simple: stock prices have skyrocketed, according to the report.
Europe's Millionaire Dilemma On the flip side, Europe's number of wealthy individuals has dropped by 2.1%, major economies like France losing around 21,000 millionaires in just one year. But don't get too downhearted, because the number of ultra-wealthy individuals in Europe has risen by 3.5%, highlighting a significant concentration of wealth.
Millionaire Madness in Germany
The downward trend in Germany's millionaire population seems to be attributable to falling real estate prices, Capgemini reports. But don't dust off your old fedora just yet—the total wealth of the rich in Germany remains almost unchanged at a hefty 6.32 trillion clams.
Capgemini's annual "World Wealth Report," initiated in 1997, considers stocks, bonds, alternative investments, cash, and real estate (if not self-occupied) when calculating the total wealth of the rich. Art collections and luxury goods like cars and jewelry are left out of the equation.
The study covers 71 countries, accounting for more than 98% of global GDP and 99% of global market capitalization. In addition, surveys were conducted among 6,472 dollar millionaires to examine their investment strategies. The ever-growing wealth inequality has sparked debates about potential taxation solutions in recent years.
Source: ntv.de, gho/dpa/AFP
- Wealth
- Millionaires
- USA
- Germany
Enriching the Conversation
To fully grasp the global wealth landscape, we need to examine several factors and trends that have an effect on the number and total wealth of millionaires—particularly in the USA and Germany.
Global Wealth Trends
- Global Inequality: The World Inequality Database offers insights into wealth and income disparities worldwide, emphasizing the significant role of wealth disparities in recent years[1].
- Economic Shocks: The global economy has faced a series of shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and geopolitical tensions, which have impacted wealth accumulation and distribution[5].
Millionaires in the USA
- Trends: The number of millionaires in the USA has been steadily increasing over the past few years, benefiting from economic recovery and stock market growth. However, specific data for recent years are not readily available.
- Economic Conditions: Economic conditions, like GDP growth and stock market performance, play a crucial role in the wealth of millionaires. In 2025, the US experienced slight GDP decline, which might affect wealth accumulation[3].
Millionaires in Germany
- Trends: Similar to the USA, Germany's millionaire population has likely been impacted by European economic conditions and global financial trends. However, specific data for recent changes in Germany is not detailed in the search results.
- Economic Conditions: Germany's economic performance, including factors like GDP growth and European economic policies, plays a vital role in the wealth of its millionaire population.
Challenges and Projections
- Global Economic Outlook: The IMF predicts that global economic growth will be below historical averages, which could impact wealth accumulation across countries[5].
- Poverty and Inequality: Despite increases in wealth among certain populations, global poverty remains a persistent issue, with an estimated 711 million people living in poverty as of 2022[2].
To get precise data on the number and total wealth of millionaires in the USA and Germany, it would be advisable to consult reports from financial institutions or wealth management firms that specialize in such statistics.
- The increasing wealth of the rich, as evidenced by the record-breaking number of millionaires in the USA and globally, has significant implications for employment and business, particularly in terms of community and employment policies that aim to address the increasing wealth gap.
- In light of the growing wealth of the rich, understanding the role of personal-finance and finance in shaping business and employment opportunities within the USA and Europe becomes essential, as policies that support access to financial resources may help alleviate poverty and economic inequality.
