Billionaire families plan to pass on $7tr to the next generation

At least $152.7 billion is headed to heirs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and South Africa

- BY NIVETHA DAYANAND

Billionaires worldwide stand poised to transfer nearly $7 trillion in assets to their heirs by 2040, with $5.9 trillion likely flowing directly or indirectly to children.

The US will capture the lion's share, but significant sums head to markets across Asia, Europe and the Middle East as older generations pass the baton.

Heirs in the US alone could inherit almost half that total, at least $2.8 trillion over the next 15 years, even before accounting for asset appreciation.

America dominates

According to UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report, America dominates the landscape, home to nearly a third of the world's billionaires. Their heirs face the largest influx, driven by established family dynasties and substantial holdings in tech, finance and industry. The scale suggests US wealth managers and family offices will handle unprecedented planning demands as assets move across generations.