Global wealth surges 10.8% in 2025, driven by asset bubbles at the top
An opinion piece referencing the Soviet film The Golden Antelope cautions that a financial system prioritizing inflated market valuations over enhancing quality of life is fundamentally precarious. As reported by the World Federation of Exchanges, global stock market capitalization surged by 18.5% in 2025, reaching nearly US$152 trillion. The UBS Global Wealth Report 2026, released on June 30, indicates that global personal wealth increased by 10.8% in dollar terms, outpacing previous years. UBS identified 3,302 billionaires in the US, an increase of 383 (13.1%) from the prior year. The report highlights that over 1,000 billionaires live in the United States, with 562 in mainland China and 211 in India, revealing a rise in wealth primarily among the wealthiest, concealing underlying economic vulnerabilities.
Key facts
- Global stock market capitalisation rose 18.5% in 2025 to nearly US$152 trillion.
- Global personal wealth grew 10.8% in dollar terms in 2025.
- UBS counted 3,302 US dollar billionaires in 2025, up 383 from a year earlier.
- Over 1,000 billionaires are in the United States.
- Mainland China has 562 billionaires.
- India has 211 billionaires.
- Wealth growth is concentrated at the top of the wealth pyramid.
- The article uses The Golden Antelope as a metaphor for unsustainable greed.
Entities
Institutions
- World Federation of Exchanges
- UBS
- South China Morning Post
Locations
- United States
- mainland China
- India