Europe is home to a significant number of the world’s billionaires, with Germany holding the top spot on the continent and ranking fourth globally. Greece also has a notable presence in the billionaire list.
Wealth Distribbution Across Europe
Wealth inequality remains a major global issue, including in Europe. The richest 1% of the population holds at least 20% of total wealth in nearly all European countries, often exceeding 25%, according to Our World in Data.
Forbes reports that the world will have over 3,000 billionaires in 2025, with a combined net worth of $16.1 trillion (€13.7 trillion). However, this wealth is highly concentrated: the United States, China, and India alone account for over half of all billionaires and their combined wealth.
Germany leads Europe with 171 billionaires, whose combined net worth reaches €676.4 billion. Dieter Schwarz is the wealthiest individual in Germany, with €35 billion, ranking 37th worldwide according to Euro News.
Italy follows with 74 billionaires totaling €289 billion. Giovanni Ferrero is Italy’s richest, with €32.6 billion, placing 41st globally.
The United Kingdom has 55 billionaires with a combined net worth of €203 billion. Michael Platt is the wealthiest Briton at €16 billion, ranked 106th worldwide.
Other European Leaders
Sweden and Switzerland follow, with 45 and 42 billionaires respectively. Stefan Persson is Sweden’s wealthiest at €15.9 billion, while in Switzerland, Gianluigi Aponte and Rafaela Aponte-Diamant share the top spot with €32.2 billion each, ranking 44th worldwide.
Among the five largest European economies, Spain has the fewest billionaires—34—placing seventh in Europe. Amancio Ortega is Spain’s richest at €106 billion, ranking 9th globally.
Turkey has 32 billionaires, followed by Norway with 17. Greece ranks next, hosting 16 billionaires.
Billionaires Across Other European Countries
- Netherlands: 13
- Ireland, Belgium, Czech Republic: 11 each
- Poland, Cyprus: 10 each
- Austria, Denmark: 9 each
- Finland: 7
- Romania: 6
- Hungary: 4
- Slovakia, Bulgaria: 2 each
- Portugal, Luxembourg, Croatia, Iceland, Albania: 1 each
Austria’s richest, Marc Mateschitz, holds €34.6 billion, ranking 38th globally.
Western and Northern Europe Dominate
Western and Northern European countries dominate the billionaire list, with Germany, Italy, the UK, France, and Sweden accounting for 61% of Europe’s total. Eastern Europe lags significantly.Economy Size Influences Billionaire Distribution
The number of billionaires largely correlates with the size of a country’s economy. The four European countries with the most billionaires also rank among the five largest economies in Europe, although GDP ranking and billionaire count do not perfectly align. The UK and Switzerland are also major financial centers.
In contrast, the 2024 UBS “Billionaire Ambitions Report” presents slightly different figures using a different methodology: Germany leads with 117 billionaires, Switzerland has 85, the UK 82, Italy 62, France 46, Sweden 28, and Spain 27.
Source: tovima.com
