UBS: 'US Added 440,000 Millionaires Last Year'...Polarization Explodes Amid Stock Rally

▲ Millionaire, Wealth Gap/AI-generated image

The stock market rally has reshaped the global wealth landscape, creating over 440,000 new millionaires in the U.S. in 2025 alone. As the benefits of rising asset prices concentrated among financial market participants, both wealth expansion and deepening inequality are simultaneously highlighted.

According to CNBC, an economic media outlet, on July 2 (local time), UBS's Global Wealth Report 2026 revealed that global personal wealth increased by 10.8% in US dollar terms last year. This is the fastest growth rate since 2017, significantly surpassing the 4.2% in 2023 and 4.6% in 2024.

The report analyzed that strong financial markets and rising non-financial asset values led to wealth expansion. In particular, the stock market surge played a decisive role in the increase of new millionaires in the U.S. In the U.S., 441,078 new millionaires emerged in 2025, meaning over 1,200 people newly became holders of over $1 million in net worth each day.

Globally, the number of millionaires in US dollar terms increased by approximately 1 million. On average, this is over 2,600 people per day. This marks the first time that the number of millionaires has increased in all 56 markets tracked by UBS. The U.S. accounted for nearly half of the increase in new millionaires, with its total millionaire population exceeding 23.6 million, representing over 40% of the global total.

Regional wealth growth rates varied significantly. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region showed the strongest growth, increasing by 17.5%, followed by the Americas at 8.5%, and the Asia-Pacific region at 5.9%. UBS explained that a weaker US dollar was a factor in boosting wealth growth rates outside the U.S.

However, the increase in average wealth did not translate into perceived wealth for all households. UBS pointed out that the gap between average wealth and median wealth trends is widening. While those who owned stocks and real estate enjoyed rising asset prices, households with low financial market participation could not increase their wealth at the same pace. Although the stock market rally created a large number of millionaires, the expansion of wealth simultaneously fueled debates about inequality.

[Article Key Summary]

-UBS announced that global personal wealth increased by 10.8% in US dollar terms in 2025, the fastest rate since 2017.

-In the U.S., 441,078 new millionaires emerged, accounting for nearly half of the global increase in new millionaires.

-While the rise in stock markets and real estate led to wealth growth, the widening gap between average and median wealth also expanded the debate on wealth inequality.

*Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not take responsibility for investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted solely for information provision.*