Forbes listed 2,755 billionaires worldwide in its 2021 World’s Billionaires ranking.
The figure was a record at the time and represented a sharp increase from the previous year. Forbes calculated the list using wealth information available around March 2021, when technology shares, financial markets and other assets had risen substantially from the early pandemic period.
The 2021 billionaires collectively held an estimated $13.1 trillion. The United States had the largest national group, followed by China, although billionaires were recorded across many countries and territories.
Forbes’ count is a dated snapshot rather than a permanent census. People may enter or leave the list as share prices move, exchange rates change, private businesses are revalued or family wealth is divided among heirs.