70% of billionaires are self-made and only 30% legacy (2024)

1 min read 22 Mar 2023, 04:21 PM ISTLivemint

The report also said among those who inherited their money, 10% have grown it aggressively

70% of billionaires are self-made and only 30% legacy (11)Premium

The Hurun Global Rich List 2023 showed that 70% of the billionaires are self-made and only 30% are legacy. Some of the self-made billionaires include Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Gautam Adani and others.

As many as 247 self-made women made it to the list this year, down by 22 from last year. Among them, China dominated the list with 81% of women billionaires coming from the country. Oklahoma-based Diane Hendricks, 76, became the richest self made woman in the world for the first time with a wealth of $17 billion. Meanwhile, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, L'Oreal, is the richest woman in the world with $80 billion.

Among those who inherited their money, 10% have grown it aggressively. For example, Bernard Arnault, who inherited $15 million, and turned it into $200 billion or Mukesh Ambani, who inherited $10 billion in 2002, growing it close to $100 billion in over 20 years.

India ranks 3rd in the number of billionaires

In terms of a number of billionaires, India ranks third in the 2023 M3M Hurun Global Rich List. In terms of number of billionaires,China is almost 5 times bigger than India.

The report cited the global ranks of Indians in M3M Hurun Global Rich List is swelling at the fastest pace in India’s modern history. For instance, Gautam Adani & family has gained more than 437 ranks over the last 10 years. The table below gives a snapshot of Indians in M3M Hurun Global Rich List 2023.

The Hurun Global Rich List 2023 reported a decline in the number of billionaires to 3,112, down 8% from last year, and their total wealth decreased by 10%. Of those, 1,078 experienced a growth in their wealth, with 176 new entrants. Meanwhile, 2,479 saw their wealth remain the same or decrease, with 445 dropping off the list. The average age of the billionaires was 66 and they hailed from 69 countries and 2,356 companies.

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Updated: 22 Mar 2023, 04:21 PM IST

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70% of billionaires are self-made and only 30% legacy (2024)

FAQs

70% of billionaires are self-made and only 30% legacy? ›

In 1984, less than half the people on The Forbes 400 were self-made; in 2023, 70% have created their own riches. In all, around 30% of this year's Forbes 400 members inherited their vast sums.

Is it true 80% of millionaires are self-made? ›

In my thirty-plus years of surveying and studying millionaires, I have consistently found that 80 to 86% are self-made. That also applies to decamillionaires. In 1982 according to Forbes about 38% of America's wealthiest people were self-made.

What percent of billionaires are self-made? ›

The Hurun Global Rich List 2023 showed that 70% of the billionaires are self-made and only 30% are legacy. Some of the self-made billionaires include Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Gautam Adani and others.

Are most rich people self-made or inherited? ›

Most of the wealth accumulated by new billionaires in 2023 came from inheritance, overtaking self-made wealth for the first time in the nine editions of a study by UBS. The report estimates that more than 1,000 billionaires are expected to pass on $5.2 trillion in wealth to heirs over the next 20 to 30 years.

Did 79 millionaires inherit $0? ›

79% of U.S. millionaires did not receive an inheritance from their parents or other family members. The majority of millionaires really did work for their wealth (and made their wealth work for them). They didn't wait for a rich uncle to come along with a check for $1 million.

What creates 90% of millionaires? ›

Real estate investment has long been a cornerstone of financial success, with approximately 90% of millionaires attributing their wealth in part to real estate holdings. In this article, we delve into the reasons why real estate is a preferred vehicle for creating millionaires and how you can leverage its potential.

Is it true that 90% of millionaires make over $100000 a year? ›

Choose the right career

And one crucial detail to note: Millionaire status doesn't equal a sky-high salary. “Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career,” the study found, “and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.”

Who was the youngest billionaire ever? ›

Clemente Del Vecchio became a billionaire at the age of 18. The world's top richest people have toiled hard to create wealth. Some of them even used innovative ideas to come up with something extraordinary and became the wealthiest people in the world.

Is Taylor Swift self made? ›

Taylor Swift is a self-made billionaire, having generated tremendous wealth almost exclusively off of her music.

Are there any billionaires who grew up poor? ›

But there are a small minority of billionaires who started from genuine poverty. Oprah Winfrey grew up in a home without power or running water, and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz grew up in government-subsidized housing. What's for more common, though, is for billionaires to come from modest wealth.

Is Taylor Swift a billionaire? ›

Swift's inclusion comes after Forbes declared the singer a billionaire in October 2023 and reported her net worth at $1.1 billion. In a rare feat, Swift is the first musician to reach the milestone solely from songwriting and performing.

Are there any Trillionaires? ›

As of today, no billionaire is within striking distance of becoming a trillionaire.

Are most millionaires actually self-made? ›

The majority of millionaires are self-made and have accumulated their wealth through a combination of hard work, education and investing. Tim Corley, a wealth expert and author, has spent years interviewing hundreds of millionaires to learn their habits and how they think.

Are 88% of all millionaires self-made? ›

They Grow Their Money, Not Businesses

Business News Daily cited Fidelity Investments data that said 88% of all millionaires are self-made — slightly more than the previous standard.

How many of the world's millionaires are self-made? ›

79% Of Millionaires Are Self-Made — Lessons From Those Who Built Wealth Without Inheritance. Recent studies have shown that the notion that most millionaires are born into wealth is a myth. Recent studies have shown that the notion that most millionaires are born into wealth is a myth.

Are 90% of millionaires first generation? ›

That whole "if I can't do it, they must have some advantage." But when you see the research and you see consistently, it's around 80 percent, 80 percent of millionaires are first generation. And when we looked at our own research, 74 of our clients have not received an inheritance greater than $10,000.

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