$15.1 trillion in global billionaire wealth; 3,795 record holders

A recent report by Altrata states that the combined wealth of billionaires worldwide reached a record $15.1 trillion last year. This figure represents a surge of 12.8% compared to previous years. The total count of billionaires rose to 3,795 people, an 8.2% increase which is the largest annual jump in five years. The firm identified 150 publicly listed companies as major contributors to this growth. These firms invested at least $30 million in artificial intelligence over the past five years and achieved market capitalization growth that was 23% higher than peers without such investment, according to the report. Wall Street's focus on AI contributed to these wealth gains. Maya Imberg, head of thought leadership and analytics at Altrata, noted that this trend widened the wealth gap among the super-rich. The data also shows the emergence of 29 individuals, termed "superbillionaires," with net worths exceeding $50 billion each. These twenty-nine persons hold a combined total of $4.1 trillion, accounting for 27% of all billionaire wealth globally.