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AI boom fuels stock surge, UBS says nearly a million new millionaires worldwide

The AI boom is reshaping more than just technology—it's minting millionaires at a record pace. According to a new report from UBS, the global stock market surge, fueled by artificial intelligence, has directly expanded the billionaire club and pushed overall wealth growth to its highest level in years.

Over the past year, global individual wealth rose by 10.8%, but the average net worth of billionaires jumped by a staggering 25%. The benefits, it seems, are flowing disproportionately to the top.

The number of billionaires worldwide increased by 13% year-on-year, reaching 3,302. Among them, 18 individuals have fortunes between $50 billion and $100 billion, while 19 are worth over $100 billion—most of them residing in the United States.

In 2025, nearly one million new dollar millionaires were added globally, bringing the total to more than 57.5 million. A weaker dollar also helped push many over the million-dollar threshold.

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The United States led the pack, adding over 440,000 new millionaires—the most of any country. But the growth rate of billionaires in the US was relatively modest at just 1.9%. Meanwhile, wealthy individuals in markets like Turkey and the United Arab Emirates saw much higher growth rates.

UBS economists point out that the assets of the wealthy are largely tied to shares in publicly listed companies. The continued rise in stock prices, driven by AI-related enthusiasm, is the core factor behind the rapid increase in their wealth.

But behind the impressive numbers lies a sobering reality: global wealth inequality has intensified. According to related inequality reports, a tiny minority—just 0.001% of the global population—holds wealth three times that of the bottom half of the world's population. The stock market gains brought by AI have not been evenly distributed.

Key Points:

  • Global individual wealth grew 10.8% in the past year; billionaire wealth surged 25%.
  • Number of billionaires rose 13% to 3,302; 19 people have over $100 billion.
  • Nearly 1 million new millionaires added globally, total now over 57.5 million.
  • US added the most millionaires (440,000+), but growth rates in Turkey and UAE were higher.
  • AI-driven stock market gains are the main driver, but wealth inequality has worsened.