In a world that operates on money, capital and invention are synonymous. Billionaires, from tech titans in Silicon Valley to industrial magnates in Asia, have become famous for being bastions of entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and sometimes controversy. In 2025, more than ever before, the merely ultra-wealthy comes in many forms.
But as a percentage of the worlds billionaires how many is that? How are they distributed geographically? Which sectors top the list of billionaire clubs? But in which way do assets such as unlisted shares influence this elite landscape?
CoinDCX News presents you with some updated data from the whole 2025 list in one post and a deep dive into the stories behind it, human perspective.
Table of Contents
The Billionaire Boom in 2025: A Global Snapshot
Forbes, Hurun and other reputable sources of wealth tallying confirmed that the number of billionaires in the year 2025 world now stands around 3,010. In 2024, the figure was around 2,), correlating to an increase of 7.8% over 2010.
This is more than 3,000 people with assets worth at least $1bn — in terms of publicly listed shares or notional private holdings such as unlisted shares.
Global Distribution of Billionaires in 2025
Here’s a regional breakdown of how many billionaires are there in the world and where they live:
| Region | Number of Billionaires | Notable Countries |
| United States | 810 | USA |
| China | 435 | Mainland China, Hong Kong |
| India | 212 | India |
| Germany | 126 | Germany |
| United Kingdom | 120 | UK |
| Russia | 100 | Russia |
| Brazil | 75 | Brazil |
| Middle East | 95 | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar |
| Rest of Europe | 300+ | France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland |
| Africa | 45 | South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt |
🇺🇸 How Many Billionaires in the US?
The US will maintain a huge lead with 810 billionaires by 2025. Tech tycoons, hedge-fund honchos, entertainment moguls, and retail royalty.
Top 5 US Billionaires in 2025:
| Name | Net Worth (USD) | Sector |
| Elon Musk | $255 Billion | AI, Space, Energy |
| Jeff Bezos | $202 Billion | E-commerce, Space |
| Mark Zuckerberg | $148 Billion | Social Media, VR |
| Warren Buffett | $126 Billion | Investments |
| Larry Page | $120 Billion | Tech, AI |
Many of these people still have very large positions in unlisted shares — in particular, in private funding deals and research labs — giving them even more influence outside the stock market.
Where Is This Wealth Coming From?
Billionaires are no longer the only captains of old industries by 2025. The billionaire club is more varied and draws from emerging sectors such as —
- Artificial Intelligence
- Fintech
- Clean Energy
- Space Technology
- Crypto & Blockchain
- Unicorn Startups with Unlisted Shares
- Luxury Real Estate & Green Architecture
The Role of Unlisted Shares in Wealth Creation
A widely underappreciated source of billionaire wealth are unlisted shares which many believe to be a kind of instrument in the financial market.
These are stakes in non-public companies. The thing is, valuations are built on air — theyre almost always inflated and based on venture funding rounds or private equity; but their influence is HUGE.
Examples:
- SpaceX (Elon Musk): Still private, valued over $200B.
- Stripe (Patrick & John Collison): Valued at $95B, still unlisted.
- ByteDance (TikTok’s Parent): Remains unlisted but valued at $225B.
Many billionaires owe their paper wealth not to stock market gains, but to the soaring valuation of their unlisted equity. This new trend is defining the modern billionaire.
Billionaires by Industry – 2025 Breakdown
| Sector | % of Total Billionaires |
| Technology | 26% |
| Finance & Investments | 18% |
| Manufacturing | 14% |
| Retail & E-commerce | 12% |
| Real Estate | 10% |
| Healthcare/Pharma | 8% |
| Energy & Mining | 5% |
| Entertainment & Sports | 3% |
| Crypto & Blockchain | 2% |
| Others | 2% |
Technology and Finance top the list followed by Crypto (Blockchain/Bitcoin etc) & Green Tech Both o which are ever becoming prominent thanks to a lot of venture capital funding, unlisted shares.
Women Billionaires in 2025
More are becoming billionaires, note. Add to this the fact that women billionaires are around 430+, it was 370 in just two years before.
Notable Names:
- Françoise Bettencourt Meyers (France) – L’Oréal heiress
- MacKenzie Scott (USA) – Philanthropist and ex-wife of Jeff Bezos
- Rihanna (USA/Barbados) – Music & beauty mogul
- Zhang Xin (China) – Real estate powerhouse
- Falguni Nayar (India) – Founder of Nykaa, boosted by unlisted shares pre-IPO
Women are increasingly carving out their own success through entrepreneurship, not just inheritance.
How Wealth Is Changing: From Riches to Responsibility
More and more billionaires are turning into philanthropists, climate champions and impact investors.
With initiatives such as the Giving Pledge (a commitment by the wealthiest individuals in a world to give most of their wealth) and ESG investing (Environmental, Social, and Governance), wealth is shifting from consumption to contribution..
Startups backed by billionaires now often include social purpose at their core, particularly those still in the unlisted phase, where innovation is unrestricted by public market pressures.
Hidden Wealth: The Quiet Power of Private Equity and Unlisted Shares
Stock tickers used to make public wealth very trackable in days of yore. Today, however, many billionaires choose to fly under the radar and shroud their vast wealth in unlisted shares of companies that have not yet gone public. These include:
- AI Labs
- Crypto Protocol Developers
- Private Real Estate Trusts
- Family-owned Conglomerates
- BioTech startups in stealth mode
While they may be non-public, pre-IPO or under the category of another conglomerate’s control, these valuations make billionaires overnight with a big funding round.
10 FAQs – How Many Billionaires Are There in the World in 2025?
How many billionaires are there in the world in 2025?
There are around 3,010 billionaires worldwide by 2025.
How many billionaires in the US are there in 2025?
The US boasts 810 billionaires, the most in the world.
In which other country billionaires are the next most abundant?
China will be the next closest with roughly 435 billionaires in 2025.
What are unlisted shares?
An unlisted share is an equity that is not listed or traded on any stock exchange. They are valued largely on private valuations or perhaps each next fundraise.
How do unlisted shares impact billionaire counts?
Many modern billionaires derive most of their wealth from unlisted shares in tech, biotech, or fintech firms that haven’t yet gone public.
Who is the richest person in the world in 2025?
Elon Musk holds the title, largely through stakes in unlisted companies like SpaceX and Neuralink.
How many women billionaires are there in 2025?
There are over 430 female billionaires worldwide in 2025.
Which sectors have produced the most billionaires?
Leading the list are technology, finance and retail, real estate and healthcare close behind.
Are crypto and blockchain billionaires growing?
Yes, but they make up a smaller portion (~2%), though many hold assets in unlisted blockchain ventures.
How can I track unlisted share values?
Through platforms that report on startup funding, VC valuations, and private equity databases. CoinDCX News provides regular insights and updates.
Final Thoughts by CoinDCX News
Billionaires Are Being Forged Faster Than Ever in 2025 This is not limited to people with yachts and jets. They are innovators, technologists, investors and problem solvers who create wealth out of the embers of private enterprise across the world.
This will become more and more relevant as trends move towards AI, climate tech, blockchain etc. with unlisted shares being of strategic value. So get ready for even more stealth billionaires to come out of the startup boardrooms and lab incubators. BS
That is what, here at CoinDCX News, we are dedicated to help you follow: a wealthscape that appears to be changing — not only the who but also how and why.