The United States has the most billionaires in the world in 2026, with 989 in the March 2026 count, followed by China with 539 and India with 229. This list ranks the ten countries with the most billionaires using the March 2026 annual count. Different annual lists use different methods and give different totals, so the order outside the top three can change by source.
| Rank | Country | Billionaires (March 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 989 |
| 2 | China | 539 |
| 3 | India | 229 |
| 4 | Germany | 212 |
| 5 | Russia | 147 |
| 6 | Italy | 89 |
| 7 | Canada | 82 |
| 8 | Hong Kong | 71 |
| 9 | Brazil | 70 |
| 10 | Taiwan | 66 |
1. United States: 989 billionaires
The United States still has the most billionaires of any country by a wide margin, and holds the top spot in a second major tally as well, with about 1,000. Technology, finance and consumer brands account for most of the wealth, and the deep public markets let founders turn company shares into fortunes.
2. China: 539 billionaires
China is second in this count with 539 billionaires, but first in a competing 2026 tally that counts 1,110. The gap shows how much the answer depends on the method, especially for private companies and holdings valued differently. Manufacturing, technology and property built most of the fortunes.
3. India: 229 billionaires
India has 229 billionaires in this count, third in the world, and a larger 308 in another 2026 tally. Family-run conglomerates, technology and pharmaceuticals feature heavily among them.
4. Germany: 212 billionaires
Germany has 212 billionaires, the most of any European country by this count. Many fortunes sit in family-owned industrial firms, retail chains and carmakers that passed down through generations.
5. Russia: 147 billionaires
Russia has 147 billionaires in this count, fifth in the world. Natural resources, metals and energy have been the main sources of wealth. A second 2026 tally counts 105, a reminder that counts of Russian holdings are harder to pin down.
6. Italy: 89 billionaires
Italy has 89 billionaires, sixth in this count, and a place in the top ten that was not part of our 2015 edition. Fashion, luxury goods, food and family-run manufacturing lead the sources.
7. Canada: 82 billionaires
Canada has 82 billionaires in this count, up from 39 in our 2015 edition, which makes it one of the fastest-moving entries on the list. It was tenth then and now sits seventh.
8. Hong Kong: 71 billionaires
Hong Kong has 71 billionaires. Property, finance and trading fortunes dominate, and the territory remains a gateway for capital in Asia.
9. Brazil: 70 billionaires
Brazil has 70 billionaires in this count, up from 54 in 2015. Banking, agribusiness, retail and commodities are the main sources.
10. Taiwan: 66 billionaires
Taiwan enters the top ten with 66 billionaires, a new arrival on the list. Its wealth is concentrated in electronics, semiconductors and manufacturing.
Is a country rich because it has many billionaires?
Not necessarily. A high billionaire count shows that a country has large markets and room for founders and heirs to build or hold big companies. It says little about how wealth is shared. Divide the counts above by each country’s population and the picture changes, because the biggest countries do not necessarily have the most billionaires per resident.
Across the full world list, billionaires fall into two groups: founders who built companies from nothing and heirs who inherited a business and kept it growing. Both groups matter for the ranking, and both help explain why Germany and Italy rank so high.
FAQ
Which country has the most billionaires in 2026?
The United States, with 989 in the March 2026 count. Another major 2026 tally puts China slightly ahead, so the top two depend on the method.
How many billionaires does China have?
539 in this count and 1,110 in another 2026 tally. The difference comes from how private holdings are valued.
Which European country has the most billionaires?
Germany, with 212 in this count, followed by Italy with 89.
What changed since our 2015 edition?
Italy and Taiwan entered the top ten, pushing out France and the UK. India more than doubled from 100 to 229, and the United States rose from 536 to 989.
Does a high billionaire count mean a rich country?
No. It shows where large fortunes are built or held, not how wealth is distributed across the population.
How we put this list together
For this list we used the March 2026 annual billionaire count, compared with a second 2026 tally to flag where methods differ. Counts cannot be derived from transactions, so we label them as published counts and note the difference between sources.
Last updated: October 2026.
