Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The number of rich people in China and Hong Kong has increased significantly in recent times. This was revealed from the latest research from the Swiss company, UBS. The research shows that the increase in the number of billionaires is not from business activities, but is obtained 'instantly'.

UBS research results actually recorded an increase in the number of billionaires throughout the world. However, they use Hong Kong and China as one of the case studies. Through its research, UBS revealed the fact that the increase in the number of world billionaires did not occur due to individual efforts, but rather inheritance or transfer of wealth.

This wealth transfer has apparently become a new way of cultivating wealth over the last few decades which has seen the number of billionaires increase. Many aging company founders are starting to pass on their wealth and business empires to the next generation.

UBS predicts that in the next 20 to 30 years wealth worth US$ 5.2 trillion will be passed on from one generation to another. Chair of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia, Amy Lo, said billionaires in Asia-Pacific are starting to organize ways of transferring wealth to the next generation.

This is important so that the transfer of wealth can run smoothly and without any problems in the future.

“Billionaires in Asia-Pacific are increasingly looking for effective strategies and family succession planning advice to build relationships, encourage the exchange of values ​​and experiences between generations,” said Lo, quoted from the UBS website, quoted on Sunday (7/1/2024).

In the end, this step then led to an increase in the number of billionaires in the region. In a South China Morning Post report in early August, the Asia-Pacific region had the highest number of billionaires and the highest proportion of billionaires in the world.

Their number jumped from 922 to 1,019 people while their combined wealth increased by 8.1% to US$ 3.7 trillion. If dissected more deeply, this surge was obtained rapidly from China and Hong Kong.

Based on UBS research, there are 76 new billionaires in China from the previous 467 to 543 billionaires with combined assets of US$ 1,860 billion. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, 9 new billionaires were added, bringing the total number of billionaires there to 69 people with a combined wealth of US$ 321.5 billion.

Of this number, 98% of Chinese billionaires and 64.7% of Hong Kong billionaires obtained their wealth from business activities. Then, what about the rest?

Of course the rest became rich thanks to inheritance. Those who gain wealth from this inheritance, whether in these two regions or the world, will later be called the ultra-rich generation.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(luc/luc)