More numerous, more fortunate. There have never been so many rich people in the world and their wealth has never been higher, according to a Annual Report unveiled this Wednesday by Capgemini. It lists people whose disposable money outside their main residence exceeds one million dollars. There were 22.8 million to have this chance in 2023, or 5.1% more than the previous year. Their fortune has also increased, with an estimated total wealth of $86.8 trillion, an increase of 4.7% compared to 2022.
In terms of number of people concerned and wealth, these are two records since Capgemini began publishing this annual study in 1997.
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The progression of this wealth was mainly made possible by the rise in stock markets around the world: the American Nasdaq index soared by 43% and the S&P 500 by 24% in 2023, while in Paris the CAC40 index gained 16% and the DAX in Frankfurt 20%. “Stocks jumped in conjunction with the tech market, fueled by enthusiasm for generative AI and its potential impact on the economy,” notes the firm in the study which concerns 71 countries.
Last year, North America experienced the strongest growth in the number of individual millionaires with an increase of 7.1% as well as in wealth (+7.2%), ahead of Asia-Pacific and the Europe.
Should we tax the 3,000 billionaires?
The levels of wealth and the parallel increase in inequalities have given rise in recent years to numerous debates on how to better make the highest assets contribute to tax.
At the G20, Brazil and France are pushing for a global minimum tax on the highest wealth, which could bring in an additional $250 billion if the world’s 3,000 billionaires paid at least the equivalent of 2% of their fortune in taxes. on income, one of the hypotheses under discussion.