Research: High Net Worth Statistics 2026

Status: Research Complete (Feb 3, 2026) Primary Sources: Capgemini World Wealth Report 2025, UBS Global Wealth Report 2025, Knight Frank Wealth Report 2025, Altrata.

1. Global Wealth & Population Overview

• Global HNWI Population (2024): 23.4 million (+2.6% YoY) [Capgemini]
• Global HNWI Wealth (2024): $90.5 Trillion (+4.2% YoY) [Capgemini]
• Total USD Millionaires (2024): ~59.4 million (UBS estimates 1.5% of adults are millionaires)
• Billionaire Wealth (2025): $15.8 Trillion (Record High) [UBS]
• Billionaire Population: +8.8% growth in 2024 [UBS]

Projections

• 2029 Projection: 5.3 million new millionaires expected by 2029 [UBS].
• UHNW Growth: UHNW population expected to grow 31% by 2030 [Altrata].

2. Wealth Tiers & Distribution

Key Insight: The top 1% of HNWIs (UHNWs) control 34% of the total wealth pie. [Capgemini]

3. Geographic Shifts (The "American Divergence")

North America is decoupling from Europe in wealth creation.

• North America:
  • HNWI Population: 8.4 million (+7.3%)
  • Wealth Growth: Strongest global region.
  • USA: 8 million millionaires (approx 35% of global total).
• Europe:
  • HNWI Population: 5.7 million (-2.1% Decline).
  • declines in UK (-14k), France (-21k), Germany (-41k).
• Asia-Pacific (APAC):
  • HNWI Population: 7.7 million (+4.8%).
  • Closing the gap with North America.

4. Asset Allocation (The 2026 Portfolio)

How the wealthy are investing right now.

Key Insight: 15% allocation to alternatives is a historic high, driven by younger generations seeking non-traditional yield. [Capgemini/Knight Frank]

5. The Great Wealth Transfer

• Total Transfer: $124 Trillion estimated over next 20-25 years. [Cerulli Associates 2025 Revision]
• Spousal Transfer: $9 Trillion moving sideways to spouses (mostly women) first.
• Next Gen: $74 Trillion moving down to Millennials/Gen Z.
• Impact: 48% of wealth management firms see "intergenerational retention" as their top risk.

6. Emerging Behaviors & Trends

• Tech Investment: 74% of family offices/wealth firms are investing in tech/AI operations in 2026.
• Global Mobility: 183% increase in inquiries for "citizenship by investment" by Americans (Golden Visas). [Henley & Partners]
• Lifestyle Spending: Shift from "goods" to "experiences" (travel, health, longevity).
• Philanthropy: 68% of UHNWIs cite "giving back" as a top goal for wealth (up from 55% in 2020).

7. X1 Derived Insights (Synthesis)

• Estate Tax Still Matters: OBBBA removed the TCJA sunset and lifted the federal exclusion to $15M, but assets above the threshold remain subject to a 40% federal rate.
• The "Mid-Tier Gap": The $5M-$30M segment (Mid-Tier) is growing fastest but is "under-served" by traditional private banks (who want $30M+) and retail advisors (who cap out at $2M). This is X1's "Blue Ocean."
• Mobility as Risk: The 183% spike in "Golden Visa" interest signals HNWIs are hedging jurisdictional risk (US taxes/politics) alongside market risk.

---

FAQ Candidates (For the page)

1. How many millionaires are there in the world in 2026?
   • Answer: Approx 59.4 million globally, with 23.4 million classified as "High Net Worth" (investable assets >$1M).
2. What is the cutoff for Ultra-High Net Worth (UHNW)?
   • Answer: $30 million in investable assets.
3. Which country has the most millionaires?
   • Answer: The United States (approx 8 million), followed by China.
4. What is the Great Wealth Transfer amount?
   • Answer: $124 Trillion through 2048 (revised from previous $84T estimates).
5. How much cash do millionaires hold?
   • Answer: On average, 26% of their portfolio is in cash or equivalents.

---

Update Checklist

• Update HNWI population totals and regional growth from the latest Capgemini report.
• Refresh allocation mix and UHNW projections if UBS or Knight Frank releases newer figures.
• Confirm the wealth transfer total (Cerulli) and estate tax exclusion (IRS) for the current year.
• Update the production page timestamp after any data changes.