There are more millionaires than ever before. According to Forbes magazine's annual ranking of the world's billionaires, there are 2,781 people in the world with a fortune of more than $1 billion (£800 million), an increase of 141 people by 2023. Taylor Swift also made the list.
Billionaires' wealth is also higher than ever before, with total wealth estimated at $14.2 trillion, an increase of $2 trillion compared to 2023 and the GDP of every country except the U.S. and China. exceeds.
Their collective wealth has increased by 120% over the past decade, but at the same time billions of people around the world are experiencing a decline in their standard of living in the face of inflation and a cost-of-living crisis.
“This has been a great year for the world's wealthy, with more billionaires around the world than ever before,” said Chase Peterson-Whithorn, wealth editor at Forbes. “Record-breaking 14 centi-billionaires” [$100bn] I have a 12 digit fortune. Even in times of economic uncertainty for many, the ultra-rich continue to thrive. ”
Equality campaigners said the “staggering wealth” amassed by the super-rich should lead to urgent efforts to “distribute this wealth more evenly, proportionately and efficiently”.
Daisy Pearson, from campaign group Global Justice Now, said: “A small number of individuals have been allowed to amass extraordinary wealth while much of the world's population lives in dire poverty. It's completely unconscionable that they exist.” This is only possible through exploitation, and their monopoly on wealth and resources allows them to further accumulate enormous power and influence over decisions that affect our daily lives. Enough is enough – we should regulate the existence of these barons. ”
Luke Hildyard, executive director of the High Pay Center think tank, said: “The Billionaires List essentially shows how much of the wealth generated by the global economy is being used for the benefit of humanity, rather than being used for the benefit of humanity. , an annual calculation of how many people are captured by a small oligarchic caste. as a whole. Distributing this wealth more evenly, proportionately and efficiently should be the most urgent task of the coming decades. ”
Taylor Swift is one of 265 new faces on Forbes' list this year. Swift, 34, reached the milestone with an estimated fortune of $1.1 billion after her record-breaking Elas tour and concert films.
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According to Bloomberg, the Elas tour was a massive concert that spanned nearly three and a half hours and included more than 44 songs, and generated more than $700 million in ticket sales in the United States alone. That was before including international flights dated 89.
The richest person on the planet is Bernard Arnault, majority owner of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, whose wealth rose 10% to $233 billion, according to Forbes magazine. Elon Musk came in second place with $195 billion, an 8% increase from the previous year.
