Israel welcomed six new billionaires in 2024, with their combined personal wealth growing by 18% to $86 billion, according to the UBS Global Wealth Report.
Billionaires worldwide fared well, but those in the United States saw the biggest gains, amassing $5.8 trillion—40% of global billionaire wealth. The U.S. gained 101 new billionaires, an 11.2% increase, while only 20 individuals lost their billionaire status.
South America also did well this year. Brazil added 19 new billionaires, raising its total to 60, with a combined fortune of $154.9 billion. Across Central and South America, billionaire wealth grew by 20.8% to $411.4 billion as the number of billionaires on the continent increased from 74 to 92.
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The Asia-Pacific region presented a mixed picture. In China and Hong Kong, billionaire wealth dropped 16.8% to $1.8 trillion, with the number of billionaires falling from 588 to 501. Meanwhile, India experienced a 42.1% surge in billionaire wealth, reaching $905.6 billion, with its billionaire count rising from 153 to 185.
In Western Europe, billionaire wealth increased by 16% to $2.7 trillion, driven by a 23.8% rise in the Swiss billionaire community. The region now boasts 495 billionaires, up from 456 last year.
In Africa and the Middle East, billionaire wealth rose 39.5% to $138.7 billion, with 18 new individuals joining the ranks.
Globally, 268 people became billionaires for the first time in 2024, with 60% of them identified as entrepreneurs—a shift from 2023, when most new billionaires inherited their fortunes.