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Global Millionaires Increase By Most Since Dot Com Bubble, Control Record $52 Trillion In Wealth
Who says quantitative easing and the global central bank put isn't working. Well, lately it is pretty much everyone including former central bankers and investing legends (which coincides with what we said in 2009 but it took the mainstream about 5 years to figure it out) except central planners, of course, and those who still manage money for a living. However global QE certainly is working for one group of people: those who in the aftermath of Piketty's release of Kapital 2.0 have fallen under the microscope: the world's wealthiest.
What is amusing is that many are still confused how it is that as the middle class is collapsing around the world, and certainly in the US, the wealthiest continue to collect more wealth. Hopefully the recently released 2014 edition of CapGemini's World Wealth Report will shed some light on just where this wealth is not only coming from, but where it is going.
Here is the punchline: according to the latest wealth report the number of high net worth individuals increased by nearly 1.8 million in the past year, the second biggest surge since 2000, which also happened to be the crazy days of the first tech bubble (not to be confused with the current tech bubble). In other words, the epic, unprecedented stock bubble reflated by the world's coordinated central banks, has succeeded. Succeeded, that is, if its goal was to make the world's richest people wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. As for everyone else, just over 7 billion people, better luck next time.
What is perhaps just as amusing in considering the unintended (or perfectly intended) consequences of the Fed's attempts to "stimulate the economy" is that being a mere millionaire is no longer enough. Which is why CapGemini makes the following distinction: "For the purpose of our analysis, we separate HNWIs into three discrete wealth bands: those with US$1 million to US$5 million in investable wealth (millionaires next door); those with US$5 million to US$30 million (mid-tier millionaires) and those with US$30 million or more (ultra-HNWIs)."
Finally, for all those confused where the inflation, which is so "woefully" missing from the global economy, is look no further than the stock market. Because in 2014 the wealth of the world's millionaires, the vast majority of it contained in paper profits of financial assets, grew by a whopping 14% and hit a second consecutive record high of $52.3 trillion, increasing by over $6 trillion in one year!
Here are the full findings:
- HNWI ranks expanded by nearly 2 million individuals in 2013, marking a 15% growth rate and the second largest increase since 2000. North America and Asia-Pacific continued to lead the way, with Japan’s HNWI population witnessing significant growth. ??
- HNWI wealth grew by almost 14% to reach a second-consecutive record high of US$52.62 trillion in 2013, building on a strong five-year trend. Over the past five years, HNWI wealth globally increased by nearly US$20 trillion, US$2 trillion more than the total HNWI wealth currently in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa combined.
- ??Ultra-HNWI population and wealth growth in 2013 outperformed other wealth bands in all regions except Latin America. The slow growth in Latin America, which holds the largest percentage of ultra-HNWI wealth (32.9%), constrained the global figure in 2013 and also over the last five years. ??
- Three clear HNWI performance clusters have emerged among the top 25 markets since the crisis in 2008, with the above-average growth country cluster representing a diverse mix of markets. Oil-rich Norway and Kuwait, the financial centers of Hong Kong and Singapore, and the emerging economic powerhouses of China, India, Russia, and Taiwan comprise the above-average growth cluster. Latin America and the Eurozone, meanwhile, have lagged.
- ??HNWI wealth is expected to reach another record of US$64.3 trillion by 2016, representing 22% growth over 2013 and almost US$12 trillion in new HNWI wealth. Growth is expected to be driven by robust expansion in most regions, though Asia-Pacific will lead the way with 9.8% CAGR. As forecasted in the 2013 World Wealth Report, Asia-Pacific is still expected to have the largest HNWI population by 2014 and the most wealth by 2015.
Finally, the next time someone says that Abenomics is an abysmal failure (such as Zero Hedge), feel free to counter with the following clear example of just how wrong they are and how successful Japan's berserk attempt to reflate everything at all costs (or at least the Nikkei) at a pace that makes even the Fed blush, has been:
Japan’s HNWI population growth rate surged to a record 22.3%, following a more modest annualized growth of 4.6% from 2007 to 2012. Propelled by Abenomics, Japan experienced significant returns in the equity and real estate markets on the strength of positive sentiment and better economic performance, especially during the first half of 2013.
Great news for Japan's 10%. As for everyone else there is "Abenomics' Legacy: Japan's Greatest "Misery" In 33 Years."
That's ok though. In the New Abnormal, nobody cares about those who are below merely a "millionaire next door."
Finally, some charts to show just how "effective" QE has been visually.
First, the number of high net worth individuals broken down by region.
Next, what is the amount of wealth controlled by the world's uber-rich.
Everyone's favorite wealth pyramid: we find that 128,300 Ultra High Net Worth people control more than a third of all the wealth in the highest wealth pocket. The balance of the millionaires, some 13.6 million, hold the remaining 65%.
Broken down by country:
How does the wealth of the richest compare to the change in HNW population numbers.
Finally, if you think $52 trillion is a lot, wait until 2016 when CapGemini forecasts that the world's richest will control over $64 trillion, and rising at a 7% annual rate - roughly in line with the historical return of the S&P 500.
And now, we can't wait for the Piketty sequel, one which finally puts the global record wealth disparity in its correct context, one which "thanks" the world's central banks for making the richest people wealthier than they have ever been, while in the process crushing the world's middle class.
QE: "Mission Accomplished" indeed.
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How can the rich know they are sufficiently rich, unless so many are exceptionally poor.
Welcome to the new norm.
I am not surprised. Recent headline on Marketwatch.com read - "Bulls unfazed while Bears turn Bulls". Me thinks that oughta put some fear in the bulls hearts when everybody is a bull.
are you suggesting that 50 people crammed onto the same side of a 12 foot boat during a storm is unsafe?
yeah but of course they all want to be factorials if they can switch from being exponential functions
Fuck Canada is falling in the rankings. We need more Bankers...moar Bankers!
just wait until all the rich Chinese finishing clearing immigrations
or the already-Canuck princlings get transfered the rest of the money stashed on various tropical islands
Starving billionaires, bitchez.
Every time they don't mention if this is net worth
So I doubt it
It's moot. It's all paper, or digital blips. Buy definition it cannot be wealth. The headline and the premise of the story is entirely defunct. It should be "World's Most Destitute Paper Paupers".
I am Chumbawamba.
Show us 52 trillion in gold. Or hell, copper and aluminum, iron. Something tangible.
http://www.crackshackormansion.com/
lol, 6/16, cool link bro
Dear rich people, who will be the first of you to turn paper wealth into real wealth? Which of you will be the next to follow? Which of you will realize that your paper wealth is now falling because of all the selling? Which of you will be willing to sell your paper wealth at any price because even at that price you are still rich? Which of you believe this event is now a buying opportunity? How many of you will be wrong about that?
How will the "poor" treat you when you become one of them?
The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, was an anomaly in history created during a time of capitalism, free markets and small gov. The wealth disparity we're seeing now is a reversion to the global norm.
Re: capitalism, free markets and small gov
The 1950's were capitalism, free markets, and small gov? Tell that to the highly regulated railloads, trucking companies, airlines, and banks.
The 1950's were capitalism, free markets, and small gov?"
You know better than that. Crony-capitalism, regulated markets and socialism were well entrenched in the US by then. Somewhere in your self centered being, you actually believe the middleclass only existed in the US in the 50's. That marks the last time we had a middle class.
I believe they refer to that as "social security."
what did the 0 say to the 8?
nice belt
geometric progression baby
inky How can the rich know they are sufficiently rich, unless so many are exceptionally poor.
Welcome to the new norm.
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How can you know what is rich or poor unless you have bought into the MSM. Being rich or poor is relative and has nothing to do with being a millionaire.
I suspect that the wealth increase of those new millionaires, old millionaires and billionaires is equal to the loss of net worth and wages of the new poor being created. You know the new poor right? They are also known as "formerly middle class".
Money is never lost, merely transferred from one to another. In this case, it's transferred from the bottom up.
Me thinks that at the current rate of inflation we'll all be millionaires very soon.
As long as you're fully invested in the Elysium Class's ponzi scam, yes. All ecomonic games are structured to have a few winners (not much point of winning if everybody can). What we now call "inflation" is the game use to separate the Elysium Class from the Trash Class. There's not much point of being in the Elysium Class if the Trash can (say) afford to go to South France every few years. So, there's got to be someway (which is "the game") to separate the most-worthy from the trash.
Which is why you do not see many trailer parks near Monaco.
It's the zoning, in part. But, also it is very accidented terrain around that dinky statelet. In France, where "travellers" can show up and occupy your property overnight and stay for months. Owners there line their property with giant rocks and trenches and so on to discourage that, because the police won't act. Around Monaco, there is no off-road place for a trailer to be. It is all either steep or wet.
Yes, I have been to Monaco and did ask that stupid question. The waiter smiled and told me his "kind" were bussed in to work. The joke being Monaco is so small this really isn't a long trip. Not that I would be back soon. 2 drinks and an appetizer at Le Meridien Hotel cost 115 euros.
Miffed;-)
unfortunately, inflation has yet to find it's way into the average persons wages so, no, we ain't even gonna come close to being even zimbabwe millionaires. we're just gonna be poorer with higher living expenses.
Bullish needle hole widening apparartus.
cue the indian guy who let his 8 yearold son drive his ferrari lmfao
Survival of the fittest, bitchezzz!!!
it's funny. rich people use that agument all the time as long as they are talking about economic darwinism....but when things get physical, they start singing a different tune.
Re: they start singing a different tune
Of course. Duplicity is the key to success. The most-fit generally have lots of it.
i love the tautology: the fittest are the survivors, the survivors are the fittest.
a dog eating its vomit; a snake blowing itself.
are parasites the fittest? is the cockroach a survivor? is the tape worm an ayn rand true believer?
is god good? is the devil evil?
they won't be singing any tune when the shit hits the duplicitous fan.
Hey, I didn't MAKE the rules. If you want a different society you'll need to figure out some other system AND convinse those who wanted a survival-of-the-fittest system to change their minds. But right now, those who wanted a survival-of-the-fittest society would prefer if the unworth would just just kill themselves and their defective DNA.
Most of these "Millionaires" will be standing in the same breadlines as the rest of us when this sucker blows...its all paper wealth, its not real...so spend it why you can...
That is justice talking.
There is no justice.
The baby wildabeast will be the lion's lunch until the lion becomes vegan.
The most-fit of the most-fit will convert their paper wealth into Real-Estate and thug-protection services.
We're just living the suvival-of-the-fittest life that most people wanted for generations, it just didn't turn-out quite the way most of the young males thought it would. Oh well, just life. Not everybody can be an above average sociopath or asshole.
When the cost of captial is zero ..."Money for Nothing and Your Chicks for Free!";
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNxGr2CKLfw
7 billion VS. A few million..... I would bet on the poor team.
and that truth was perfectly illustrated in "A Bug's Life":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlWZZSD4irM
I would bet on the poor team.
Las Vegas. Dim lighting, shitty odds and watered down hooch puts the poor team in its place on a daily basis.
"rising at a 7% annual rate"
and there you have the TRUE rate of inflation.
Even the MSM is jumping on the it's fucked bandwagon. Peston for the beeb compared todays stock market with 2007. That'd be unheard of a few months ago even though the same problem has been around for so long.
When BTC reaches $1M, that will look much different.
Millionaires on paper, big deal anyone can just declare that.
What about all the crafty ones who DON'T declare it? I would guess there are quite a few, to say the least.
Going to be fun watching all those paper millionaires on the soup lines post TEOTWAWKI.
Should have converted the paper into gold, silver, steel and lead when they had a chance.
The most-fit of the most-fit will. It's a survival-of-the-fittest game. Only the best will win.
I Would be shocked if they aren't.
Technically, I'm one of those millionaires. Let's dissect why this is a stupid metric, though.
While I'm pleased to belong to a 'special class' of wealth, the reality is it's never what you think it is. I'm only part of this group because of a few things. First, I work my ass off, and so does my wife. Our combined salary keeps us in the top 10% of the US - a beneficial thing, to be sure. But remember, we have 2 college age kids. We can't pay their tuition, so we've had them take out loans and we get no federal aid.
I know, lots of people will say "world's smallest violin". But I'm not asking for sympathy. I'm making a point.
My wealth came at great cost. I put off vacations when I was younger. I bought a condo when I was in my 20's because I saved for it, then I rented it out after we moved out and bought a house. Right now, fully 33% of our wealth is the result of a housing bubble. So we're not leveraging this to pay for college. I'm not going to see my house underwater.
Of the remaining 66%, most of it is wrapped up in 401(k)s because while friends of mine went on vacations and partied, I was socking money away. Of course, of that 66%, probably about 70% is real since we're in the middle of a severe bubble in stocks. Which is why I've started slowly shifting out of stocks.
I have close to zero savings, probably a 2 month window. Our jobs pay our bills, our loans and our 401(k). At my age, I can't afford to ignore preparing for retirement. The SocSec Ponzi won't be around when I reach the age to collect.
Before anyone starts ripping me a new one, please know I spent 4 of the last 15 years on unemployment. During those periods, I burned through what little savings I had which is why I have so little now. Another stretch on the streets could force me to sell my home. Not an optimal solution, but possibly the only course of action. So I work my ass off to keep my job. At my age, younger people are being viewed as "cheaper". Hell, I just got passed over for a promotion and my new boss is 17 years younger than me. The age bias at corporations is severe. I can run circles around my new boss, both in job performance and health-wise. But hey - the company decided a youth movement is preferable to experience. I'm just happy I have a job.
So yeah, it's fun to be part of the super-elite, even though to me it just means I'm working harder to stay here and there are no special benefits that come with being part of the millionaire crew.
Am I better off than many? Yes, and I thank my lucky stars that I've had the wherewithal and luck to do this. In many ways I'm blessed and I'm thankful.
But as financialrealist points out above, there is as much a chance that my family and I will be on a breadline when the economy collapses as there is I will benefit from some kind of stock holdings.
So yeah, it's fun to be super-wealthy. It's all fun and games and I'll be spending the weekend on my imaginary yacht.
Boy good thing they didn't base the game show Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, after you.
You must realize how many of us will view your comment about being a "millionaire" but can't afford your two kids college tuition.
If that's true for you, then can you even begin to wrap your head around how difficult it must be for "non-millionaires" (i.e. most of us) to put a kid through college? Or even get them through the first 18 years of their life?
I won't junk your post because you seem sincere. But you are right about one thing: You ain't getting no sympathy here.
Alien - He got all upvotes which is encouraging. He worked hard and admitted some luck was involved. To get a decent paying corporate job to build a retirement it's who you know. That is more impportant than ever. A good degree is still important.
I had a semi-bad deck of cards and realized I would have to outcompete. Came close to selling my biz for $6.3 M in 2008 but crash came. I even had forecasted in summer of 2007 and scrambled to line up acquisiton strategy and bids. So onward I go.
The company that was going to acquire then just did a good contract for biz and want to fund me. So have to be patient yet 3-4 more years. I was pissed about the reminders of evolution, the vagina lottery and unfairness because I planned retirement at 40 and worked by bag off 50-60 hours a week and educated myself, raised a family to beat the odds and am genuinely tired. But I'll still beat them :/)
It has been the attitude of "bootstrap up" from Boomer generation, gov and very wealthy/connected this last 14 years or so that bugged me the most but realistically as human I concede I might have held similar attitude if roles were reversed. I will say the learning and times competing were also satisfying in many ways but those at the top outright cheating do piss me off. That tends to be your hundred million+ to billionaire class buying governnent more than millionaires of a few million.
@Mr. Bird,
Actually, from your description, I don't think you qualify as a millionaire in the study. The minimum range was $1 million in investable wealth. That is one million dollars beyond your debts and present and future liabilities and commitments, including retirement.
You're still one of us, loser! :-D
Inspector Bird I know, lots of people will say "world's smallest violin". But I'm not asking for sympathy. I'm making a point.
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Those in the "Greatest Generation" weep for you (sarc). And so do those in thrid world countries. But take haeart. The US is heading toward 3rd world status where at some point people will stop bitching about what they do have and be be grateful for what they do have. In your case, it is your family. I would be grateful for that.
Guess what. When I lost my job. I became a janitor. It took me over 10 years to work back to mid 5 figures. Life is what you make of it. Only you are responsible for it.
Inspector - I am in a similar position. You know the risk to your money in a 401k. So I will make just one comment - think about REALLY diversifying. i.e. Gold, silver, real estate, physical assets. Anything to get it away from banks and wall st.
I heeded my own advice last year and took the hit to cash out a big part of my 401k.
Millionaires? Trillionairez, Bitchez !
Millionaires are the New Thousandaires.
I realized that Lebron James earns more by playing ONE game of NBA basketball, $235,000, than I've probably earned in my rather long lifetime.
And Chelsea Clinton earned more in one year "working" as a journalist, $600,000, than I will earn in TWO lifetimes.
Al Kaline, HOF baseball player, earned $100,000 per season as a player
Yes, the "millionaries" now are simply the Elysium Class support troops: the top 10% or so. This group is the management-class for the most-fit members of society. The "millionaries" can still live well, but (what we call inflation) ensures they don't get "too close" to the superior class of people.
$$$$ !
It's all relative. I have a close friend who's net worth is between $275-$300 million. Self made guy. In his circles he doesn't feel wealthy.
Where would he rank? Top 10,000 Americans?
Let the class warefare by the ignorant begin. Funny how those that attack the rich, want to be rich. Would you turn down a winning powerball ticket?
30 mil. ain't what it used to be
....and people still sit here and whine about the Fed being useless. The Fed and it's member banks have been a resounding success for themselves.
Correction: Not wealth, "claims on wealth." There is a difference. The Fed redistributes claims on wealth; it doesn't create wealth.
Many people love to mask the real issue of inequality by muddying the water and lumping together all the people with money. This is a total disservice but effective when dealing with an audience that does not understand true wealth. The term "Millionaires and Billionaires" often used by President Obama, screams "I have an agenda", the way he uses the term is both offensive and a simplification. Only a crazy person or someone with very little knowledge of money or wealth would think that linking, comparing, and putting the two into the same class has merit.
Over the years the value of the American dollar has dropped. Across America and the world there are millions of working class millionaires. They do not have private planes or servants, they worry about their financial survival and many work far more hours then the average American worker. More on this simplistic phrase intended to anger, split the people, and create a class war in the article below.
http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2013/02/millionaires-and-billionaires.htm...