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Global billionaires have reached a record 3,000 in 2025, highlighting widening inequality and growing influence over politics and economies.

The number of billionaires worldwide has climbed to an all-time high of 3,000 in 2025, according to a new report released by Oxfam.

The report highlights a sharp acceleration in wealth accumulation among the world’s richest individuals, at a time when many governments are struggling to tackle poverty and inequality.

Oxfam’s findings show that Elon Musk remains the richest person in history, with an estimated net worth of $500 billion the first time an individual has reached that level.

Collectively, billionaires now control more than $3.5 trillion, underscoring the scale of wealth concentration at the very top of the global economy.

According to the report, billionaire wealth is expanding far faster than global economic growth. Oxfam noted that over the past few decades, the number of billionaires has tripled, with their assets increasing well above average income growth worldwide.

In several countries, studies show that inequality is worsening more rapidly than it did in the previous four years, deepening economic divides.

The report also reveals that the 12 richest individuals now control over $500 billion, more than the combined wealth of the poorest half of the world’s population.

Globally, billionaires are estimated to be 4,000 times more likely to command enough wealth to outweigh the economic and political power of millions of ordinary citizens.

Oxfam links extreme wealth accumulation to growing political influence, particularly in advanced economies where wealthy individuals can shape policies, fund campaigns, and influence public debate.

History shows that when wealth becomes highly concentrated, democratic institutions weaken. Protests are suppressed, dissent is sidelined, and political systems increasingly reflect elite interests rather than public needs.

The rise in billionaires in 2025 is more than a statistical milestone. It reflects a global system where wealth increasingly shapes laws, elections, and economic policy.

As living costs rise and social mobility declines for many, critics warn that unchecked inequality threatens fairness, democracy, and long-term stability.

The record number of billionaires raises a pressing question for governments worldwide: how to balance economic growth with equity, accountability, and inclusive development in an increasingly unequal world.