January 19, 2026 1:23 PM
Billionaires’ wealth hits new peak as their clout grows, Oxfam says
Billionaire wealth surged at three times its recent pace last year to reach its highest level on record, deepening economic and political divides that threaten democratic stability, anti-poverty group Oxfam said on Monday. In a report timed for the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the charity said the fortunes of global billionaires jumped 16% in 2025 to $18.3 trillion, extending an 81% rise since 2020. The gains happened even as one in four people worldwide struggle to eat regula...