UBS’s «Billionaire Ambitions Report» reveals that in 2025, billionaire heirs inherited a record $297.8 billion in wealth, a 36% increase year-on-year.
While only 91 heirs received these assets, fewer than the previous year, the total value reached a historic high. This highlights a key trend in today’s global wealth landscape—capital is transferring faster and in larger amounts, with power becoming more concentrated in the hands of a few beneficiaries.
This generational shift is redefining how wealthy families think about the future.
«As families become increasingly international and large-scale wealth transfers accelerate, the focus is shifting from pure wealth preservation to empowering the next generation to succeed independently and responsibly. This is influencing not only inheritance planning but also philanthropic priorities and long-term investment decisions,» he said.
The report shows that the acceleration of wealth inheritance is reshaping the billionaire landscape. By 2025, the number of multi-generational billionaires will reach 860, with total assets of $4.7 trillion, up from $4.2 trillion the previous year. The fastest growth is among third-generation billionaires, followed by fourth-generation and beyond.
This shift is occurring alongside the continued creation of wealth. By 2025, self-made billionaires contributed $386.5 billion to global wealth, bringing total billionaire assets to a record $15.8 trillion. However, UBS notes that the way wealth is distributed and preserved is playing an increasingly important role.
The growing importance of inheritance is also influencing family structures and priorities. Many heirs are choosing to pursue independent careers or dedicate themselves to social causes rather than merely managing inherited assets, making long-term planning more complex.
Looking ahead, UBS expects wealth transfers to continue accelerating. By 2040, billionaires are projected to pass on approximately $6.9 trillion in wealth, most of it to their children, marking the largest intergenerational capital transfer in modern history.
Previously, it was reported that Asia’s private wealth is expected to reach $99 trillion by 2029, reflecting how this generational transfer is becoming a decisive force in the global financial system.
