财富-2018亿万富豪人口普查报告（英文）-2018-35页

2018 Wealth-X Billionaire Census Summary

Core Content

The 2018 Wealth-X Billionaire Census provides a comprehensive overview of the global billionaire population and their wealth dynamics in 2017. It highlights the continued growth of billionaires, driven by strong economic performance, rising equity markets, and stable exchange rates. The report also explores regional trends, the impact of geopolitical events, and the evolving nature of billionaire wealth creation, distribution, and philanthropy.

Main Points

Global Billionaire Growth

• The global billionaire population reached a record high of 2,754 individuals in 2017, up 15% from 2016.
• Total billionaire wealth surged by 24% to $9.2 trillion, surpassing the previous peak of $7.7 trillion in 2016.
• The US remained the largest contributor, holding 34% of global billionaire wealth.
• Asia-Pacific led the growth in both population and wealth, with +29% in population and +48% in wealth.
• China and India were the fastest-growing countries in terms of both population and wealth.
• North America (US and Canada) was overtaken by Asia in the number of billionaires for the first time.

Regional Performance

• Asia-Pacific:
  • Billionaires increased from 632 to 816.
  • Wealth rose from $1.646 trillion to $2.44 trillion.
  • China alone saw a 61% increase in billionaire wealth to $1.1 trillion.
• The Americas:
  • Billionaires increased by 10.8% to 884.
  • Wealth grew by 22.3% to $3.758 trillion.
• EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa):
  • Billionaires increased by 9% to 1,054.
  • Wealth rose by 12.2% to $3.007 trillion.
  • The UK was the only top-10 country to experience a decline in both population and wealth, attributed to Brexit-related effects.

Wealth Distribution

• The top 10% of billionaires controlled 32% of all billionaire wealth.
• The top 15% held over half of the total billionaire wealth.
• The $1bn–$2bn wealth tier saw the largest absolute increase in population (158 individuals) and wealth (226 billion).
• The $50bn+ tier experienced the highest growth rate, with 100% increase in population and 110% in wealth.
• The $25bn–$50bn tier saw a decline, with population dropping by 9 and wealth by $40 billion.

Key Trends and Insights

Market Volatility and Stability

• Low volatility in 2017 led to robust wealth gains.
• The Vix index hit an all-time low, indicating reduced investor fear.
• Despite political instability, market performance was strong, with global equity markets trending upward.

Political Impact

• US political uncertainty under Trump did not deter economic growth.
• Saudi Arabia saw a decline in billionaire wealth due to anti-corruption purges.
• Russia experienced a rise in wealth but a decline in population, linked to sanctions and economic restructuring.

Philanthropy and Gender

• Female billionaires increased by 18%, outpacing male growth (14.5%).
• Education remains the most common philanthropic cause among billionaires, with 63% of them contributing to it.
• Health, public and social causes and art and culture also saw significant interest.

Industry and Asset Holdings

• Technology and healthcare were key drivers of wealth growth.
• Start-ups and blockchain introduced new forms of volatility and rapid wealth creation.
• Real estate and commodities also played a role in wealth expansion.

Methodology and About Wealth-X

• The report is based on Wealth-X's comprehensive database of billionaires, defined by net worth.
• It includes global trends, regional analysis, and demographic insights.
• Wealth-X is a leader in applied wealth intelligence, providing unique insights into the wealth creation and distribution patterns of the ultra-rich.

Summary of Key Figures

Top 10 Billionaire Countries

Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous, special administrative region of China

Top 10 Billionaire Cities

• New York remained the top billionaire city, hosting more billionaires than almost every country except China, Germany, and India.
• Hong Kong saw a significant rise in its billionaire population, increasing by 29.2% to 93 individuals.
• The billionaire population in New York only grew by 1, narrowing its lead over Hong Kong.

Conclusion

The 2017 Billionaire Census underscores the accelerated growth of the global billionaire population and wealth, especially in Asia-Pacific, with China and India leading the charge. Despite political turbulence and market volatility, economic stability and financial market performance remained strong. The gender gap continued to narrow, with female billionaires increasing in number and influence. Philanthropy and education remained central to the billionaire agenda, while new technologies like blockchain introduced new avenues for wealth creation and volatility. The future outlook remains uncertain, with a potential return to market volatility in 2018.