Wealthiest

Wealthiest is the superlative form of wealthy and is used to describe people or entities with the greatest accumulated assets or net worth. In economics and journalism, it can refer to the wealthiest individuals, households, families, corporations, or even geographic units such as nations or cities, depending on the measure applied.

Wealth is a stock concept, representing assets minus liabilities at a point in time. For individuals, rankings of the wealthiest rely on estimated net worth, which includes financial assets, real estate, stakes in companies, and other holdings, alongside debts. Valuation uncertainties, private holdings, and currency fluctuations can affect estimates. For nations or populations, wealth can be measured by aggregate household net worth, total wealth, or GDP per capita, each with different implications.

Global comparisons often cite lists and databases maintained by media outlets and research groups. The Forbes annual list of the world’s billionaires and Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index are common references for individual wealth. The Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook provides broader measures of aggregate and per-adult wealth, with cross-country comparisons and trends.

Wealth tends to be highly concentrated; a small share of people holds a disproportionate amount of global wealth. This concentration varies by country and over time, influenced by factors such as investment returns, taxation, inheritance, and economic policy. The concept of the wealthiest is inherently relative and often informs discussions about inequality, mobility, taxation, and social policy.