As of 2017, the billionaires in the world are 2.158 individuals (701 of whom are over the age of 70) who alone hold almost 9.000 billion dollars in assets, 8.900 to be precise according to the annual Billionaires Insights report published by UBS and PwC. The loot is at an all-time high, with an unprecedented growth from one year to the next: +19%, or 1.400 trillion dollars more than in 2016. The number of billionaires has also increased, especially in China, where they increased from 318 to 373 (one fifth of the world total) and their assets grew by 39%, to $1.120 trillion. In 2006, there were only 16 billionaires in China.
Wealth growth in the Americas, at 12 percent ($3.600 trillion updated total), was slower than the global rate, but the region continues to boast the largest concentration of wealth from the technology sector. There are many European billionaires, they amount to 629 (29% of the world's billionaire population), up 7%, but their assets grew "only" 17% to 2.500 billion dollars. 20% of them reside in Germany, 16% in Russia, 7% in Italy, 6% in Switzerland and 52% in other EMEA countries (Europe, Middle East, Africa).
Curiosity of the report: it seems that 60% of European billionaires are represented by the mythical figure of the self-made man. Self made men who, according to Billionaires Insights, were the creators of 80% of the 40 most revolutionary innovations of the last 40 years. Only in 2017, 199 people have become billionaires thanks to their own entrepreneurial initiative, among them are visionaries in fields such as blockchain, peer-to-peer lending, genomics and green energy. In China, 97% of billionaires are self-made.
As for Italy, in 2017 the total number of Italian billionaires grew from 42 to 43. Of these, 47% is represented by self-made men who today hold 54% of the total wealth of this group. The wealth of these billionaires grew by 12% (in line with the US trend), to 170,4 billion dollars. The three sectors of activity of the Italian billionaires are mainly consumer goods/retail, followed by the industrial sector and the financial services sector.
“We are witnessing – he commented Paolo Federici, UBS Global Wealth Management Italy Market Head – to a new wave of global entrepreneurship led by billionaires at the forefront of innovation. In addition to creating jobs and prosperity, their initiatives have an impact that goes beyond the economy. In fact, a new generation is emerging that sees an opportunity in the main environmental and social challenges that humanity has to face. In particular, Asian billionaires are young and irrepressible. They are continuously transforming their companies, developing new business models and rapidly entering new industries. They are largely self-made and are determined to capitalize on one of the best times in history for new entrepreneurship and contribute to positive societal change
