America Now Boasts 1,135 Billionaires Worth A Staggering £4.5 Trillion – Which Industries Made Them Rich?

America remains the world's undisputed capital of billionaires, home to 1,135 ultra-wealthy individuals, collectively worth an estimated £4.5 trillion as of 2025.

This staggering concentration of wealth now exceeds the GDP of most developed nations, raising fresh questions about how these fortunes were built and where future wealth creation might emerge.

The latest Forbes World's Billionaires List reveals that the US commands nearly 30% of the world's 3,028 billionaires, whose collective wealth has surged by £1.5 trillion in just one year.

Finance and Investments: The Billionaire Engine

For the 11th consecutive year, finance and investments remain the most common route to billionaire status in the US and globally.

With 464 billionaires, this sector accounts for 15.3% of the world's ultra-wealthy. From hedge fund titans to private equity moguls, the finance world continues to mint fortunes at a rapid pace.

Among the most recognisable figures is Warren Buffett, whose net worth has surged to £110.75 billion ($148.9 billion), fuelled by the enduring success of Berkshire Hathaway. Others, including Ken Griffin and Stephen Schwarzman, have capitalised on booming equity markets and high-value exits in private capital, reinforcing the sector's reputation as a wealth engine.

According to Forbes, finance and investment professionals have seen a notable uptick in ultra-high-net-worth individuals over the past year, driven by strong market returns and growing investor appetite for alternative assets.

Technology: The Wealthiest Sector by Value

While finance may lead in sheer volume, technology stands out as the heavyweight champion in terms of total wealth. The sector boasts some of the most recognisable names in modern business, including Elon Musk (£321.91 billion/$432.8 billion), Mark Zuckerberg (£187.73 billion/$252.4 billion), and Jeff Bezos (£177.02 billion/$238 billion), whose fortunes reflect the transformative power of innovation.

Driven by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and social media, tech companies have reached unprecedented valuations. Rising stars like Alexandr Wang, co-founder of Scale AI, and Severin Hacker, CTO of Duolingo, highlight the sector's relentless momentum and its ability to reinvent itself through fresh talent and bold ideas.

Manufacturing and Retail: Steady Growth

Manufacturing remains a powerhouse of wealth creation, ranking second only to finance and technology. The sector is home to industrial magnates like Julia Koch and Charles Koch, whose vast business empires encompass chemicals, energy, and consumer goods industries, which form the backbone of global infrastructure and supply chains.

Fashion and retail also hold a prominent place in the wealth landscape, driven by iconic global brands and the explosive growth of e-commerce. The Walton family, heirs to the Walmart empire, continues to dominate this space, with Jim, Rob, and Alice Walton respectively worth $122 billion (£90.74 billion), $119 billion (£88.51 billion), and $118 billion (£87.77 billion), according to 24/7 Wall St.

Healthcare, Real Estate, and Food: Emerging Billionaire Hubs

The healthcare sector has experienced a significant upswing, propelled by breakthroughs in biotechnology and the expansion of pharmaceutical enterprises. Figures like Thomas Frist, co-founder of HCA Healthcare, illustrate the sector's enduring profitability and its central role in global well-being.

Real estate continues to demonstrate resilience, with significant fortunes built through property development, commercial investments, and urban revitalisation. Dan Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans and a key player in Detroit's transformation, stands out as a prominent figure in this space.

Meanwhile, the food and beverage industry remains a cornerstone of consumer wealth. The Mars family, known for their iconic confectionery empire, exemplifies how legacy brands and global distribution can sustain and grow multigenerational fortunes.

Media, Energy and Diversified Fortunes

Media and entertainment continue to be fertile ground for wealth creation, with many individuals leveraging streaming platforms, production companies, and celebrity branding to build vast fortunes. Figures like Miriam Adelson, majority owner of Las Vegas Sands, exemplify the crossover between entertainment and hospitality, where influence and experience converge.

The energy sector, though smaller in representation, remains a powerful force in the billionaire landscape. Wealth in this space is driven by investments in oil, gas, and increasingly, renewables. Prominent names such as Lyndal Stephens, Greth, and David Tepper have capitalised on shifting energy markets and long-term infrastructure plays.

Meanwhile, diversified portfolios spanning multiple industries reflect a growing trend among ultra-wealthy individuals to spread risk and maximise opportunities. These cross-sector fortunes often combine elements of finance, tech, real estate, and consumer goods, underscoring the strategic nature of modern wealth accumulation.

The New Wealth Landscape

The concentration of American billionaire wealth reflects broader economic trends: soaring equity markets, technological innovation, and the rise of private capital. However, this unprecedented accumulation also highlights growing wealth inequality and the concentration of economic power.

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and new sectors emerge, the next generation of billionaires will likely emerge from unexpected quarters. The data suggests that whilst finance and technology dominate today's wealth creation, manufacturing and healthcare may drive tomorrow's fortunes.

This billionaire boom occurs against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and ongoing debates about rising inequality. As policymakers grapple with these challenges, the ultra-wealthy continue expanding their influence across industries, making their wealth concentration one of the defining economic stories of our time.