UBS not too long ago printed the tenth version of its Billionaire Ambitions Report, which examines the wealth and funding developments of over 2,500 billionaires throughout the Americas, Europe, Center East, Africa (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC). Over the previous 10 years, this report has documented how billionaires develop and protect their wealth for future generations, whereas additionally utilizing it to make a optimistic impression on society. Right here’s what the most recent report reveals:
Billionaires Outperform Fairness Markets Over the Lengthy Time period
Billionaires have outpaced inventory markets during the last 10 years. Between 2015 and 2024, their mixed wealth rose by a formidable 121%, rising from $6.3 trillion to $14 trillion globally. In distinction, the MSCI All Nation World Index elevated by a smaller margin of 73% throughout the identical interval.
The variety of billionaires additionally grew considerably, from 1,757 in 2015 to 2,682 in 2024—a 50% bounce. Nonetheless, since 2020, progress has slowed to only 1% yearly, largely attributable to a decline in billionaire wealth in China. Alternatively, wealth enlargement stays sturdy in areas like the USA, Europe, and India.
Supply: The UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report, 2024
Tech and industrials cleared the path
Tech Billionaires: Driving Innovation
The wealth of tech billionaires has grown the quickest amongst all sectors, tripling from $789 billion in 2015 to $2.4 trillion in 2024. In earlier years, this progress was fuelled by e-commerce, social media, and digital funds. Extra not too long ago, tech entrepreneurs have pushed developments in generative AI, cybersecurity, fintech, 3D printing, and robotics.
Industrials Billionaires: A Stunning Contender
Whereas the fast rise of tech billionaires is anticipated, industrialists have additionally made vital strides. Their collective wealth has grown from $480 billion in 2015 to $1.3 trillion in 2024, reflecting the enduring significance of producing, building, and different industrial sectors.
Elevating exposures to developed market equities, actual property and gold / valuable metals
The report reveals that billionaires are shifting their funding methods. With rates of interest within the US and Europe anticipated to ease, 43% of billionaires plan to extend investments in actual property, and 42% are concentrating on developed market equities.
Principally, within the face of evolving financial circumstances, billionaires are adjusting their funding methods. Right here’s the place they’re focusing their cash:
Conventional Asset Courses
Actual Property: 43% of billionaires plan to extend their actual property investments.
Developed Market Equities: 42% intend to spice up their publicity to equities in developed markets, presumably attributable to anticipated financial progress as rates of interest stabilize.
Gold and Valuable Metals: 40% purpose to extend investments in gold and different valuable metals, that are seen as protected havens throughout occasions of geopolitical uncertainty.
Money Holdings: 31% plan to carry additional cash to hedge towards market volatility.
Different Investments
Personal Fairness: Whereas 38% plan to extend direct non-public fairness investments, solely 28% favour non-public fairness funds/ funds of funds holdings, with 34% intending to scale back publicity to those funds.
Infrastructure and Personal Debt: These sectors are gaining traction, with 26% and 35% planning to extend investments, respectively.
Artwork and Antiques: Curiosity in artwork and antiques has surged, with 32% planning to develop their collections—up from 11% within the earlier yr.
Declining Curiosity
Hedge funds seem like shedding their attraction, as 27% of billionaires plan to scale back their investments, in comparison with 23% who plan to extend them.
 Supply: The UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report, 2024
A sea change in how billionaires drive impression
Billionaires are additionally altering the best way they make a distinction on this planet. They now perceive that there are lots of methods to have an effect, whether or not by philanthropy, investments, or their companies.
Over the previous 10 years, they’ve grow to be extra considerate and strategic about their giving. For instance, 10 years in the past, solely 46% of billionaires had a transparent plan when donating cash or making grants. As we speak, that quantity has grown to 56%, and it’s anticipated to remain across the similar (55%) over the subsequent decade. Being strategic helps guarantee their contributions make an even bigger impression.
Billionaires again ventures they care about and with potential for creating change
Moreover, billionaires focus their efforts on areas the place they imagine their impression will probably be most seen, equivalent to training, native communities, and the humanities or museums. Globally, almost three-quarters (71%) of them help training initiatives, making it the preferred space of funding. That is adopted by efforts to help native communities (54%) and initiatives in healthcare or drugs (49%).
Conclusion
Many essential details and conclusions are drawn from the examine performed by UBS in its report.
The world’s billionaires are usually not simply rising their wealth—they’re redefining how they make investments and provides again. From know-how and actual property to training and healthcare, their selections reveal a mixture of monetary prudence and social accountability.
Whereas their investments proceed to evolve in response to world developments and challenges, one factor is obvious: billionaires are utilizing their wealth not solely to safe their future but additionally to go away a long-lasting impression on society. This twin method highlights the potential for wealth to drive significant change on this planet.Â