Home / Business and Economy / Great Wealth Transfer Accelerates: $297.8B Inherited
Great Wealth Transfer Accelerates: $297.8B Inherited
7 Dec
Summary
- Nearly $300 billion was inherited by 91 heirs in 2025.
- Western Europe saw the largest share, with 48 individuals inheriting $149.5 billion.
- 196 self-made billionaires emerged in 2025, accumulating $386.5 billion.
The "Great Wealth Transfer" is significantly accelerating, with heirs receiving a record $297.8 billion in 2025. This substantial inheritance marks a 36% increase from the previous year, despite fewer individuals benefiting. Western Europe led this financial movement, where 48 individuals inherited $149.5 billion, including members of prominent German pharmaceutical families.
North America and South East Asia also saw considerable wealth passed down, with $86.5 billion and $24.7 billion transferred to 18 and 11 heirs, respectively. This influx is boosting the number of multi-generational billionaires, now totaling 860 with assets of $4.7 trillion. Projections indicate a continued, albeit gradual, transfer of trillions over the coming decades.
Concurrently, a new wave of entrepreneurs is rapidly accumulating wealth. In 2025, 196 self-made billionaires joined the ranks, bringing in $386.5 billion in total wealth, a significant increase from the prior year. These new billionaires hail from diverse sectors, including genetics, bioscience, infrastructure investment, and energy export, underscoring ongoing innovation.
