World's ultra-rich 'getting much richer'

(MENAFN- Arab News) WASHINGTON: A bare 0.004 percent of the world's adult population controls nearly $30 trillion in assets 13 percent of the world's total wealth according to a new study.

And perhaps unsurprisingly the study by the Swiss bank UBS and luxury industry consultant Wealth-X said the concentration of money in the hands of the ultra-rich is growing.

The report said 211275 people qualify as 'ultra-high net worth' (UHNW) those with assets above $30 million. Of them 2325 have more than $1 billion.

Their numbers grew 6 percent over the past year but their wealth grew 7 percent as asset markets like stocks and property soared in many places around the world.

The fastest growth indeed came in the 'demi-billionaire' group worth a half-billion to a billion dollars apiece the study said.

'Even amidst geopolitical conflicts socio-economic strife and volatile currency markets the world's equity markets displayed strong performances thereby enabling UHNW individuals' wealth to increase and their influence across industries and sectors to grow from their importance in wealth management to their consumption of luxury goods' it said.

'Such a large concentration of wealth in the hands of these few individuals means that they tend to have a large degree of influence whether on global equity markets or specific industries.'

Of the nearly $30 trillion this elite group controls just over one-third is in the hands of tycoons in North America more than one-quarter in Europe and 23 percent in Asia.

Of them 87 percent are men of the average age of 59 and nearly one-quarter of them were in banking. Of them 68 percent were 'self-made' rich 13 percent rich by inheritance and the rest a combination of the two.

The average ultra-rich woman was 57 and more likely to be involved in non-profit and social organizations (19 percent) than any other sector. Nearly half became wealthy through inheritance while one-third were self-made wealthy.

As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the rich are different. The average UHNW-er spends $1 million a year on luxury goods and services.

Yet the study points out luxury items can be 'part and parcel of their lifestyle and are not necessarily considered a 'luxury.''

'For example UHNW individuals with private jets use their aircraft not only for leisure but also for business purposes. On the other hand while yachts and particularly superyachts are usually a non-necessity many UHNW individuals lead very public lives and the privacy of a family holiday on a yacht is a very special treat.'