An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
Nearly one in five of the world’s ultra-wealthy individuals – those with assets exceeding $30 million – live in just 10 cities, according to new figures from wealth intelligence firm Altrata. Unsurprisingly, New York retains its crown as the planet’s richest metropolis, home to 21,380 ultra-high-net-worth residents – up 23% from 2024.
Hong Kong follows with 17,215 individuals in this bracket, marking an 11.5% annual increase. Both cities’ strong finance sectors continue to attract global capital and talent. In Hong Kong’s case, initial public offering valuations on its stock exchange soared eightfold in the first half of 2025, reaching $14 billion, according to Dealogic data cited by CNBC.
Beyond Tokyo and London, the remaining cities on Altrata’s list are all American, underscoring the United States’ growing dominance of global private wealth. The country is home to over three times as many ultra-rich individuals as China, the next-closest nation.
The number of people worth more than $30 million has climbed to roughly 510,810 worldwide and could approach 677,000 by 2030. Although they represent only 1% of the global millionaire population, they collectively control nearly a third of its total wealth.
Below are Altrata’s top ten cities ranked by their ultra-wealthy populations:
| Rank | City | UHNW residents | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 21,380 | +23.4% |
| 2 | Hong Kong | 17,215 | +11.5% |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 11,680 | +24.0% |
| 4 | San Francisco | 8,270 | +24.9% |
| 5 | Chicago | 7,530 | +21.7% |
| 6 | Tokyo | 6,940 | +8.4% |
| 7 | London | 6,660 | +9.7% |
| 8 | Dallas | 6,530 | +23.0% |
| 9 | Washington D.C. | 6,460 | +23.6% |
| 10 | Houston | 5,900 | +22.0% |
With seven of the top 10 cities now American, the world’s wealth geography is tilting decisively westward, even as Asia’s financial centres continue to climb.
