Podcast Summary

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy
Host: Àngels Barceló
Episode Title: La economía de Hoy por Hoy | El mundo tiene más milmillonarios que nunca, casi 3.000, de los que 32 son españoles
Date: December 5, 2025

1. Overview:

This episode of "Hoy por Hoy" with Àngels Barceló focuses on the latest report from Swiss bank UBS concerning the global and Spanish landscape of ultra-wealthy individuals—those whose assets exceed one billion dollars. The discussion centers on the sharp rise in billionaires worldwide, the growing concentration of wealth, and notable trends like the increasing importance of inherited fortunes.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Record Number of Global Billionaires

• Reported Statistic: The world now has 2,919 people with more than a billion dollars in assets—almost 300 more than last year.
  • Jordi Fábrega: "Son 2.919 las personas que podemos llamar ultra ricos porque tienen ahora mismo un patrimonio que supera los mil millones de dólares. Son casi 300 más que hace un año..." [00:22]
• The total wealth of these billionaires is now close to 16 trillion dollars globally.
• The surge in billionaire wealth is driven by strong stock market gains—especially in tech—and the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, which disproportionately benefited those with investments in the sector.
  • Jordi Fábrega: "...este año en otras cosas, de las fuertes subidas de la bolsa y especialmente del tirón de la inteligencia artificial..." [00:54]

The Spanish Context: More Billionaires, Higher Wealth

• There are now 32 Spanish billionaires, 5 more than last year.
  • "En España, Jordi, también hay más ricos, 32 en total, que son 5 más que hace un año..." [01:16]
• While 8 people entered the club, 3 left as their assets dipped below a billion.
• Massive Wealth Increase: The total wealth of Spanish billionaires rose 21% in one year.
• In three years, Spain went from 23 to 32 billionaires, and the collective wealth more than doubled: from 98 billion euros to 213 billion.
• Extreme Concentration: More than three-quarters of Spanish billionaire wealth (162 billion euros) is controlled by a single individual—Amancio Ortega.
  • "De hecho 162 mil de esos millones están en manos de una persona del más rico de España, que es Amancio Ortega." [01:58]

The Inheritance Factor: Billionaire Wealth Transfer

• Over a third of new billionaires worldwide reached the milestone through inheritance rather than entrepreneurship.
  • "Muchos de estos nuevos ricos... lo son por herencia, más de un tercio." [02:20]
• This is part of a broader, ongoing "great wealth transfer": an estimated 6 trillion dollars will shift from parents to children in the next 15 years.
  • "...en los próximos 15 años pasarán de manos de padres a hijos más de 6 billones de dólares." [02:33]
• In the past year, 91 new billionaires inherited a combined 300 billion dollars—more than Spain raises in taxes in an entire year.
  • "son 91 las personas que han entrado en el club durante este año y han heredado entre ellas 300 mil millones de dólares. Esto es más de lo que recauda España en impuestos durante todo un año." [03:04]

Reflection on the Scale

• Both hosts and analysts comment on how difficult it is to even fathom such figures, underscoring the extreme and growing concentration of global wealth.
  • Memorable moment: "Es que son cifras que uno no se puede ni imaginar." [03:28]

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the new record in billionaire wealth:
  "Habla de récord de riqueza entre los ricos que se han beneficiado este año en otras cosas, de las fuertes subidas de la bolsa y especialmente del tirón de la inteligencia artificial..."
  — Jordi Fábrega [00:54]

• On the role of inheritance:
  "Más de un tercio de los que en el último año han pasado a ser ultra ricos lo han hecho heredando la fortuna de sus padres..."
  — Jordi Fábrega [02:28]

• On the unimaginable scale:
  "Es que son cifras que uno no se puede ni imaginar."
  — Host [03:28]

• On the concentration of Spanish billionaire wealth:
  "162 mil de esos millones están en manos de una persona del más rico de España, que es Amancio Ortega."
  — Jordi Fábrega [01:58]

4. Important Timestamps

• [00:22] – Global billionaire count and collective wealth
• [00:54] – Factors driving the surge: stock market, AI
• [01:16] – Spanish billionaires: statistics and changes
• [01:58] – Amancio Ortega's dominant wealth share
• [02:20] – Rise of inherited billionaire wealth
• [02:33] – The great wealth transfer: trillions to be inherited
• [03:04] – Inheritance figures compared to Spanish tax revenue
• [03:28] – Hosts reflect on the difficulty of grasping such sums

5. Tone and Language

• The tone throughout is analytical but tinged with incredulity at the scale and speed of wealth accumulation.
• The speakers use direct, accessible language, aiming for clarity and helping listeners understand abstract, overwhelming numbers.

Summary at a Glance

This episode spotlights a watershed moment in global inequality: a record-breaking number of billionaires, surging fortunes—especially in Spain—and a historic inheritance wave that is set to cement dynastic wealth further. The stats cited are staggering, and the conversation invites listeners to reflect critically on how society changes when so much is held by so few.