image sourced from original article at The world's 500 richest individuals collectively increased their wealth by $2.2 trillion in 2025, bringing their combined net worth to $11.9 trillion, according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This surge was fueled by strong rallies across global stock markets, digital assets, and precious metals, with technology leaders such as Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, Larry Page, and Jeff Bezos among the top beneficiaries. Notably, Larry Ellison briefly overtook Musk as the world's richest person after Oracle's shares soared on artificial intelligence investments, while Musk's fortune rebounded following a record valuation for SpaceX and a new Tesla pay package.
The wealth boom extended beyond the United States, with major gains in British and Hong Kong markets, as well as in commodities and cryptocurrencies. Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart and Chile's Luksic family saw significant increases due to the rising importance of rare earths, while Donald Trump and his family benefited from commercial ventures and digital asset launches following his presidential victory. However, not all billionaires prospered: Manuel Villar, Bob Pender, Mike Sabel, Michael Saylor, and Wang Xing suffered major setbacks due to market selloffs, regulatory issues, and company-specific challenges.
