A new UBS Billionaires Aspirations report released on Thursday reveals that spouses and children of billionaires inherited more wealth in 2025 than in any year since records began in 2015.
According to the Swiss bank, 91 individuals became billionaires through inheritance during the 12 months ending last April, receiving a combined total of $298 billion—an increase of more than one-third compared to 2024.
UBS Chief Executive Benjamin Cavalli said the surge reflects a “multi-year rise in wealth transfers,” according to comments reported by Reuters.
The findings are based on a survey of the bank’s ultra-high-net-worth clients, along with a database tracking billionaire wealth across 47 global markets. UBS estimates that the children of billionaires worldwide will inherit at least $5.9 trillion over the next 15 years.
The report indicates that most of this wealth transition will occur in the United States, followed by India, France, Germany and Switzerland.
However, analysts note that billionaire mobility—particularly among younger generations—could shift these projections, as relocation decisions are increasingly influenced by lifestyle considerations, geopolitical stability, and tax policies.
