Billionaires with a net worth over 50 billion U.S. dollars had a combined net worth of nearly two trillion dollars in 2023. Billionaires with a fortune of two to five billion U.S. dollars had the highest combined total wealth, nearly reaching three trillion U.S. dollars. That year, there were 18 persons with a fortune of over 50 billion dollars.

In 2023, roughly 1.49 billion adults worldwide had a net worth of less than 10,000 U.S. dollars. By comparison, 58 million adults had a net worth of more than one million U.S. dollars in the same year. Wealth distribution The distribution of wealth is an indicator of economic inequality. The United Nations says that wealth includes the sum of natural, human, and physical assets. Wealth is not synonymous with income, however, because having a large income can be depleted if one has significant expenses. In 2023, nearly 1,700 billionaires had a total wealth between one to two billion U.S. dollars. Wealth worldwide China had the highest number of billionaires in 2023, with the United States following behind. That same year, New York had the most billionaires worldwide.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Net Worth Held by the Top 1% (99th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBST01134) from Q3 1989 to Q1 2025 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

In the first quarter of 2025, almost two-thirds percent of the total wealth in the United States was owned by the top 10 percent of earners. In comparison, the lowest 50 percent of earners only owned 2.5 percent of the total wealth. Income inequality in the U.S. Despite the idea that the United States is a country where hard work and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps will inevitably lead to success, this is often not the case. In 2023, 7.4 percent of U.S. households had an annual income under 15,000 U.S. dollars. With such a small percentage of people in the United States owning such a vast majority of the country’s wealth, the gap between the rich and poor in America remains stark. The top one percent The United States was the country with the most billionaires in the world in 2025. Elon Musk, with a net worth of 342 billion U.S. dollars, was among the richest people in the United States in 2025. Over the past 50 years, the CEO-to-worker compensation ratio has exploded, causing the gap between rich and poor to grow, with some economists theorizing that this gap is the largest it has been since right before the Great Depression.

Graph and download economic data for Net Worth Held by the Bottom 50% (1st to 50th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBLB50107) from Q3 1989 to Q1 2025 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

The massive wealth inequality in the world is underpinned by this chart: while *** percent of the world's population had fortunes of more than one million U.S. dollars in 2025, over ** percent of the global population had a total wealth of less than 10,000 U.S. dollars.

The world's richest 10 percent holds more than three quarters of the world's total wealth. Although their share decreased by around five percentage points since 1995, this underlines the massive wealth inequalities existing around the world. By comparison, the poorest half of the world population holds less than two percent of global wealth. The richest percent holds more than 40 percent of the global wealth.

Over ** million individuals residing in the United States belonged to the global top one percent of ultra-high net worth individuals worldwide in 2022. China ranked second, with over **** million top one percent wealth holders globally. France followed in third.

In 2019, ultra high net worth individuals in North America had a total wealth of almost **** trillion U.S. dollars. With a total wealth of over **** trillion U.S dollars, the second wealthiest individuals resided in Asia.

In 2023, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America were the regions with the lowest level of distribution of wealth worldwide, with the richest ten percent holding around ** percent of the total wealth. On the other hand, in Europe, the richest ten percent held around ** percent of the wealth. East and South Asia were the regions where the poorest half of the population held the highest share of the wealth, but still only around **** percent, underlining the high levels of wealth inequalities worldwide.

Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data was reported at 570.416 EUR bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 555.510 EUR bn for Sep 2024. Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data is updated quarterly, averaging 315.419 EUR bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 100 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 570.416 EUR bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 144.493 EUR bn in Jun 2000. Ireland Household Net Wealth: Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.

Household Financial Net Wealth data was reported at 406.864 EUR bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 392.231 EUR bn for Sep 2024. Household Financial Net Wealth data is updated quarterly, averaging 126.409 EUR bn from Mar 2000 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 100 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 406.864 EUR bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 69.686 EUR bn in Mar 2009. Household Financial Net Wealth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.

Ireland Household Net Wealth data was reported at 1,205.088 EUR bn in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,148.919 EUR bn for Jun 2024. Ireland Household Net Wealth data is updated quarterly, averaging 597.270 EUR bn from Mar 2002 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 91 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,205.088 EUR bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 358.490 EUR bn in Mar 2002. Ireland Household Net Wealth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.

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Wealth Management Market Size 2025-2029

The wealth management market size is forecast to increase by USD 460.1 billion, at a CAGR of 8.5% between 2024 and 2029.

Major Market Trends & Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for a 40% growth during the forecast period.
By the Business Segment - Human advisory segment was valued at USD 364.50 billion in 2023
By the End-user - Banks segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2023

Market Size & Forecast

Market Opportunities: USD 94.18 billion
Market Future Opportunities: USD 460.10 billion 
CAGR : 8.5%
North America: Largest market in 2023

Market Summary

The market is experiencing significant shifts due to the increasing number of high net worth individuals (HNIs) globally. According to recent studies, the global population of HNIs is projected to reach 26.4 million by 2025, representing a substantial increase from the current figure. This trend is driving the demand for comprehensive wealth management services. Technological advances are playing a pivotal role in the market, with digital platforms gaining popularity. Wealth management companies are under pressure to adapt to these changes, shifting their focus towards digital solutions. For instance, the adoption of robo-advisors has surged, offering personalized investment advice at lower costs.
However, pricing remains a critical concern, with clients seeking value-added services beyond traditional investment management. In summary, the market is undergoing continuous evolution, with the rising number of HNIs and technological advancements shaping its landscape. Companies must adapt to these trends, focusing on digital solutions while maintaining competitive pricing structures to meet the evolving needs of their clients.

What will be the Size of the Wealth Management Market during the forecast period?

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The market experiences continuous growth, with current assets under management (AUM) representing a significant percentage of the global financial sector. According to the latest industry data, AUM in wealth management reached over 70 trillion USD, accounting for approximately 25% of the total assets in the financial industry. Looking forward, market projections indicate a steady increase, with growth expectations reaching up to 10% annually. Comparing key numerical data, the wealth management sector's growth outpaces that of the broader financial sector. For instance, while the financial sector grew at a rate of 5% year-over-year, wealth management experienced a growth rate of 8% during the same period.
This trend underscores the market's potential and the increasing importance of wealth management services in the financial landscape. Moreover, wealth management firms have been adopting advanced technologies to cater to clients' evolving needs. Financial technology, ESG integration, and compliance regulations have become essential components of wealth management strategies. These innovations not only enhance service offerings but also contribute to improved financial projections for wealth management firms.

How is this Wealth Management Industry segmented?

The wealth management industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Business Segment

  Human advisory
  Hybrid advisory
  Robo advisory


End-user

  Banks
  Trading and exchange firms
  Investment management firms
  Brokerage firms
  Others


Client Segment

  High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs)
  Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs)
  Affluent Individuals
  Mass Affluent Individuals


Service Type

  Financial Planning
  Investment Management
  Retirement Planning
  Estate Planning
  Tax Planning
  Risk Management
  Philanthropic Planning


Deployment Model

  On-Premises
  Cloud-Based


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    UK


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Business Segment Insights

The human advisory segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

In the realm of wealth management, human advisors play a pivotal role in guiding individuals and organizations towards informed financial decisions. These professionals offer customized advice based on an individual's financial objectives, risk appetite, and financial circumstances. Human advisors consider various factors, including income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and investment inclinations, to propose personalized strategies for clients. Budgeting and expense tracking are essen

Ireland Household Financial Net Wealth: QoQ data was reported at 14.632 % in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22.460 % for Sep 2024. Ireland Household Financial Net Wealth: QoQ data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.351 % from Jun 2000 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 99 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.273 % in Dec 2023 and a record low of -26.508 % in Mar 2013. Ireland Household Financial Net Wealth: QoQ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.

In the first quarter of 2025, 51.4 percent of the total wealth in the United States was owned by members of the baby boomer generation. In comparison, millennials own around 10.3 percent of total wealth in the U.S. In terms of population distribution, there was almost an equal share of millennials and baby boomers in the United States in 2024.

In 2023, the highest total wealth owned by the world's billionaires was found in North America, reaching ************* U.S. dollars. This comes as no surprise as North America also is the world region with the highest number of billionaires. Europe was the region where the second largest amount of wealth was found in 2023.

United States Wells Fargo (WFC): Total Assets (TA) data was reported at 1,712,919,000.000 USD th in Dec 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,708,548,000.000 USD th for Sep 2019. United States Wells Fargo (WFC): Total Assets (TA) data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,070,489,000.000 USD th from Dec 2000 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 77 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,749,220,000.000 USD th in Mar 2017 and a record low of 115,539,000.000 USD th in Dec 2000. United States Wells Fargo (WFC): Total Assets (TA) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.KB056: Financial Data: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Wells Fargo.

Graph and download economic data for Bank Capital to Total Assets for China (DDSI03CNA156NWDB) from 1999 to 2020 about China, capital, assets, banks, and depository institutions.

Ireland Household Net Wealth: Housing Assets data was reported at 811.952 EUR bn in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 779.148 EUR bn for Jun 2024. Ireland Household Net Wealth: Housing Assets data is updated quarterly, averaging 450.164 EUR bn from Mar 2002 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 91 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 811.952 EUR bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 247.041 EUR bn in Mar 2002. Ireland Household Net Wealth: Housing Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.AB023: Household Net Wealth.