London - The total wealth of the world's superrich rose to more than £19 trillion sterling last year despite stock market turbulence, figures revealed yesterday.
The World Wealth Report 2001 found that by the end of the year almost 7.2 million people worldwide had more than $1 million of assets, excluding property. These people, known as high net worth individuals, saw their collective wealth increase by six per cent during the year, growing to £19.03 trillion sterling.
The survey, by investment bank Merrill Lynch and IT consulting firm Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, found the number of people with assets of more than $30 million increased by 3 per cent, meaning 57,000 people worldwide had £6.9 trillion sterling between them.