Billionaires have always traveled in a different orbit than the rest of us. Nicer things, more power, rocket-launching stations. But 2020 threw that gulf into stark relief.
While much of the world grappled with soaring unemployment and plunging growth, the 0.001% benefited from unprecedented wealth creation.
The world’s 500 richest people added $1.8 trillion to their combined net worth in 2020 and are now worth $7.6 trillion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Equivalent to a 31% increase, it’s the biggest annual gain in the eight-year history of the index and a $3 trillion jump from the market’s nadir in March.
The gains were disproportionately at the top, where five individuals now hold fortunes in excess of $100 billion and another 20 are worth at least $50 billion.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos remains the world’s richest person thanks to surging enthusiasm for online retail during lockdown. Elon Musk gained the most on the list — in possibly the fastest bout of wealth creation in history — leaping to the second spot after Tesla skyrocketed in value.
Combined the two gained about $217 billion in 12 months, enough to send $2,000 checks to more than 100 million Americans.
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