U.S. Leads Global Wealth Growth Even as Affluent Citizens Explore Opportunities Abroad

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2026 — The United States continues to stand as the world’s largest center of private wealth, according to the USA Wealth Report 2025 by Henley & Partners in collaboration with New World Wealth. Americans hold a commanding share of global private assets while producing millionaires at a faster pace than other major economies. The report shows more than six million Americans hold investable wealth of at least $1 million, representing roughly 37 percent of the world’s millionaire population.

The country also hosts about 36 percent of centi‑millionaires, those with fortunes of $100 million or more, and nearly one third of the world’s billionaires. Altogether, the United States holds roughly 34 percent of global liquid private wealth, placing it far ahead of any other nation. Over the past decade, the American millionaire population grew by 78 percent, slightly outpacing China and far exceeding other developed countries.

Economists say this dominance reflects the scale of the U.S. economy, the depth of its financial markets, and the global role of the dollar, which continues to attract investment and create opportunities for wealth creation.

U.S. Holds Dominant Share of Global Wealth

Millionaire Population Tops Global Ranks: The U.S. is home to more than six million high‑net‑worth individuals with at least $1 million in investable assets, which represents roughly 37 percent of the world’s millionaires. The country also leads in centi‑millionaires, those with $100 million or more, holding 36 percent of the global total. These figures show not only the scale of wealth in the U.S. but also how it has expanded across real estate, equities, and business holdings over the past decade, creating multiple avenues for asset growth and investment opportunities.

Billionaire Numbers Expand Faster Than Other Economies: American billionaires account for roughly one third of the world’s total, a concentration higher than any other nation. Over the last ten years, the U.S. has seen the number of billionaires grow faster than China, Germany, or the United Kingdom. Experts attribute this growth to strong entrepreneurship, access to deep capital markets, and the size of the domestic economy, which together provide fertile conditions for large-scale wealth creation and business expansion.

Wealthy Americans Explore Options Abroad

Even as wealth grows within the U.S., many affluent Americans are pursuing residence or citizenship opportunities overseas. So far in 2025, Americans have accounted for more than 30 percent of all investment migration applications processed by Henley & Partners, surpassing the total from other major applicant countries combined.

These moves are often motivated by long-term planning rather than immediate relocation. Wealthy individuals seek alternative residencies to expand travel freedom, diversify assets, and secure future options for family members. Professor Peter J. Spiro of Temple University Law School said that dual citizenship, once a luxury, is now increasingly sought by affluent Americans who see it as a layer of security in a world marked by geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Analysts note that these patterns do not suggest that wealth is leaving the United States. Instead, they reflect a broader trend in which high-net-worth individuals spread their personal and financial ties across multiple jurisdictions, maintaining connections at home while building flexibility abroad.

Cities That Anchor American Wealth

New York City remains the wealthiest U.S. city and the world’s richest when measured by the number of millionaires, hosting roughly 384,500 residents with investable assets of $1 million or more. The city also counts hundreds of centi‑millionaires and dozens of billionaires, demonstrating the concentration of wealth in a single financial hub.

San Francisco and the broader Bay Area rank second with about 342,400 millionaires and the highest concentration of billionaires nationwide. Los Angeles follows with over 220,000 millionaires, while Chicago, Houston, and Dallas host large and growing affluent populations. Miami and Austin have reported notable gains in millionaires, reflecting migration trends and business growth in these cities.

Smaller cities are expanding rapidly as well. Scottsdale, Arizona, saw a 125 percent increase in its millionaire population between 2014 and 2024, while West Palm Beach, Florida, also experienced significant growth. These trends show that wealth is spreading beyond traditional financial capitals to emerging urban centers that offer attractive business climates and lifestyle benefits.

Foreign Investment Continues to Flow

While some wealthy Americans explore global options, the U.S. remains a magnet for international investors seeking access to its economy. The EB‑5 Immigrant Investor Program, which allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent residence through job-creating investments, has generated more than $55 billion in foreign direct investment since 1990. The program has created roughly 1.4 million jobs and continues to attract substantial interest.

Inquiries into EB‑5 rose sharply between 2019 and 2024, with early 2025 data showing further growth. Proposed initiatives, including potential “Gold Card” visas linked to significant investment, indicate continued interest in drawing global wealth to the U.S. economy.

Economists say these patterns reflect a broader shift in which high-net-worth individuals maintain global portfolios, moving capital and establishing residences in multiple countries. Despite this international mobility, the United States retains a powerful draw for entrepreneurs and investors who want access to its markets, technology, and consumer base.

Wealth Flows with Global Reach

The USA Wealth Report 2025 highlights a nation that leads the world in private wealth creation while its affluent citizens engage with opportunities abroad. The United States produces millionaires and billionaires at an unmatched pace and offers an environment that supports large-scale wealth accumulation. At the same time, dual citizenship, alternative residencies, and international mobility are becoming integral parts of planning for America’s wealthiest.

Taken together, these patterns show how U.S. wealth is both concentrated domestically and increasingly connected to a global system, where financial decisions, lifestyles, and assets operate across borders without leaving the country behind.