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AI Boom Fuels Stock Surge, UBS Says Nearly a Million New Millionaires in 2025

The artificial intelligence boom is reshaping more than just technology—it's minting millionaires at a record pace. According to a new report from UBS, the global surge in AI-related stocks has directly fueled a dramatic expansion of the world's wealthiest class.

Over the past year, global individual wealth grew by 10.8%, but the ultra-rich saw far bigger gains. The net worth of billionaires jumped by an average of 25%, and the number of billionaires worldwide rose 13% to 3,302. Among them, 18 people hold fortunes between $50 billion and $100 billion, while 19 have crossed the $100 billion mark—most of them living in the United States.

In 2025, nearly one million new dollar millionaires were added globally, bringing the total to over 57.5 million. A weaker U.S. dollar also helped push many over the million-dollar threshold. The United States led the pack with more than 440,000 new millionaires, but its billionaire growth rate was a modest 1.9%. By contrast, wealthy individuals in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates saw much higher growth rates.

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UBS economists point out that the assets of the wealthy are heavily tied to shares in publicly traded companies. The sustained rise in stock prices, driven by AI hype, is the core engine behind their rapid wealth accumulation. "The AI wave has lifted the stock market, and that directly benefits those who own the most shares," one economist noted.

But behind the impressive numbers lies a stark reality: global wealth inequality has deepened. The report highlights that a tiny fraction of the population—just 0.001%—holds wealth three times that of the bottom half of the world's people. The stock market gains from AI have not been evenly distributed.

Key Points

  • Global millionaire count surged by nearly 1 million in 2025, reaching 57.5 million.
  • Billionaire wealth grew 25%, far outpacing the 10.8% average for all individuals.
  • AI-driven stock rally is the primary factor behind the wealth surge.
  • Inequality widens: The top 0.001% holds three times the wealth of the bottom 50%.