World's Billionaires Expected to Hit Nearly 4,000 by 2031

(MENAFN) The global billionaire count is on course to swell by roughly a quarter over the next five years, breaching the 4,000 threshold by 2031 as technology-driven wealth creation shifts into overdrive, according to a new report by global property consultancy Knight Frank.

The firm's findings, released Thursday, place the current worldwide tally at 3,110 billionaires — a figure projected to climb to 3,915 by 2031, representing a 25% surge in just half a decade.

Liam Bailey, the agency's head of research, pointed squarely at the technology sector — and artificial intelligence in particular — as the engine powering the acceleration. Wealth among billionaires and millionaires, he said, had been "supercharged" by profits in the technology sector, particularly artificial intelligence.

"The ability to scale a business has never been higher," he said. "That has fed into the ability to make big fortunes quickly, supercharged by tech and AI."

Among individual nations, Saudi Arabia is forecast to record the sharpest proportional surge, with its billionaire population projected to more than double from 23 to 65 by 2031. Poland is similarly poised to more than double its count — from 13 to 29 — while Sweden is expected to post an 81% jump, rising from 32 to 58.

Regionally, North America retains its commanding lead, accounting for 37% of total global wealth, trailed by Asia-Pacific at nearly 31% and Europe at just over 25%.

Russia, meanwhile, continues to anchor itself as a formidable billionaire hub. Forbes counted 155 Russian billionaires in 2026 — up from the prior year — with their collective fortunes climbing to a record approximately $696 billion, propelled largely by surging commodities and metals valuations.

The ultra-wealthy tier below billionaires is also expanding at a striking pace. The number of individuals worth at least $30 million rose to 713,626 globally, up from 551,435 in 2021 — an addition of more than 160,000 people in five years, Knight Frank noted, crediting the US as the primary engine with China and India contributing meaningfully to the momentum.

Yet the broader picture carries a stark counterpoint. The World Inequality Report 2026 reveals that fewer than 60,000 people — approximately 0.001% of the global population — collectively hold three times the wealth of the entire bottom half of humanity, underscoring the accelerating divide between the world's richest and the rest.

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