AI Fuels Record Growth in Global Millionaires and Wealth

The global population of millionaires surged by nearly 2 million in 2025, reaching an all-time high of 25.3 million individuals, according to a report by Capgemini. This significant increase, a 7.9% rise from the previous year, reflects robust stock market performance and a decline in inflation, which together boosted the wealth of the affluent.

Their combined net worth also reached a record $98.3 trillion, marking an 8.7% increase and the strongest annual growth observed since 2018. Capgemini's "World Wealth Report" highlights that stock markets, fueled by artificial intelligence-related gains, were the primary engine for wealth creation in five of the six major geographic regions studied. Despite U.S. tariffs, Wall Street indices saw gains of 13% to 20%, buoyed by interest rate cuts and AI enthusiasm.

The Asia-Pacific region led the growth in millionaire numbers, with a 9.4% increase attributed to advancements in semiconductors, particularly in Japan and China. North America followed with a 9.1% rise, driven by the United States, which added 736,000 new millionaires. Europe's millionaire population grew by 6.5%, with Luxembourg and Germany showing the most significant increases.

While Africa and Latin America also saw growth, the Middle East was the only region to experience a decline, down 1.4%, largely due to lower oil prices. The report also noted that wealth remains highly concentrated, with the top 1% holding 34.8% of the total wealth. The population of "super-rich" individuals, those with at least $30 million, also grew by 9.4% to approximately 250,000 people.