UBS(US:UBS) 财联社·2025-12-04 13:01Core Viewpoint - The number of billionaires globally is expected to reach a new high by 2025, driven by soaring valuations of technology companies and rising global stock markets [2][4]. Group 1: Billionaire Statistics - Currently, there are approximately 2,900 billionaires worldwide, controlling a total wealth of $15.8 trillion, up from about 2,700 billionaires and nearly $14 trillion a year ago [4]. - An estimated 287 new billionaires are expected to emerge by 2025, marking the second-highest increase since 2015, only behind the surge in 2021 [4]. - The report indicates that the growth of the billionaire population is accelerating and includes both entrepreneurs and heirs [4]. Group 2: Wealth Transfer - Among the new billionaires, 91 are heirs who collectively inherited assets worth $298 billion, including 15 members from two major German pharmaceutical families [5]. - The trend of large-scale intergenerational wealth transfer has been ongoing for over a decade and is now becoming a reality [5]. - Most inherited wealth is expected to first transfer to spouses, typically wives, before being passed on to the next generation [5]. Group 3: Investment Trends - UBS predicts that most wealth transfers will occur in the United States, followed by India, France, Germany, and Switzerland [6]. - A report from Altrata also indicates a historical high in the number of billionaires, estimating 3,508 billionaires with a combined wealth of $13.4 trillion, with about one-third from the U.S. [6]. - Interest in North America as a short-term investment destination has decreased from 81% to 63%, while interest in Western Europe, Greater China, and other Asia-Pacific regions has increased [6]. Group 4: Concerns and Preferences - Asian billionaires are primarily concerned about tariffs, while U.S. billionaires are more focused on inflation and geopolitical risks [7]. - Preferred destinations for billionaires include Switzerland, the UAE, the U.S., and Singapore [7]. - A recent Swiss vote rejected a proposal for a 50% inheritance tax on super-rich individuals, with opponents fearing it could lead to an exodus of wealthy individuals [7].