How many billionaires live among us and how much of the world's total wealth do they hold?

Answer: 3,028 billionaires

Questions:

• How might the concentration of wealth among a small number people impact economies and societies?
• If you had the resources of a billionaire, what would you do? Why?
• Do you think it’s possible to ethically become a billionaire? Why or why not?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (Forbes)

"Forbes has been scanning the globe for billionaires since 1987. We found 140 of them that first year. It took two decades for their numbers to swell beyond 1,000. Then there were 2,000 in 2017. Now, eight years later, another milestone: 3,028 entrepreneurs, investors and heirs make up this year’s ranking, 247 more than a year ago. Not only are there more of them, but they’re richer than ever, worth $16.1 trillion in total—up nearly $2 trillion over 2024. The U.S. has a record 902 billionaires, followed by China (516, including Hong Kong) and India (205). We used stock prices and exchange rates from March 7, 2025. For daily updated net worths of all 3,028 billionaires, check out our real-time billionaires ranking."

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.