As the cost of living crisis continues to burden much of the world, with wages declining while the cost of essentials like housing, utilities, and groceries surges, a stark disparity emerges. A new report from Oxfam reveals that billionaire wealth in 2024 grew three times faster than in 2023, with projections indicating that five trillionaires could emerge within the next decade. The Oxfam report, which draws on data compiled by Forbes, concedes that 2024 was a very lucrative year for the world’s wealthiest individuals and families, fueled in part by a soaring US stock market.
In a world where so many struggle under crushing debt, working hard to keep their heads above water, these stark contrasts highlight the gigantic imbalance as the rich get richer and the poor and working-class get poorer. We investigate further in this gallery and reveal the ten wealthiest people tipped to become trillionaires in the next decade.