A sweeping global report reveals that the world’s tiniest elite now controls three times the wealth of humanity’s poorest half, and calls to action fall on governments and the ultra-wealthy.
The World Inequality Report finds that fewer than 60,000 people, representing just 0.001% of the global population, now command three times as much wealth as the entire bottom half of humanity.
Compiled by 200 researchers and led by economists including the influential Thomas Piketty, the report shows extreme wealth inequality across the world. And the report’s authors argue urgent action has become essential rather than optional.
In short, the richest 10% of the world owns 75% of all wealth. The bottom half owns just 2%. The top 10% of income-earners capture more than the other 90% combined.
The share of global wealth held by the these very few privileged individuals has grown enormously since 1995, from 4% to over 6%, and the wealth of multimillionaires has increased by roughly 8% annually. That’s nearly twice the rate of growth for the bottom half.
The report also reveals that in almost every region, the top 1% possesses more wealth than the bottom 90% combined. We evaluated the data, focusing on the United States. Here’s a table with the key info.
| Population Group (USA) | Share of Total Wealth | Avg. Net Worth (USD) |
| Top 1% | 34.8% | $10,791,774 |
| Bottom 50% | 1.0% | $3,101 |
We also analyzed comments surrounding the release of the report. That, too, could make an interesting spreadsheet. While many are questioning whether such extreme disparities are sustainable or morally defensible, the trends in data from year-after-year of sustained effort could show the economic impact of local programs, national campaigns, or large-scale efforts in the private sector.
The community reaction reflects a growing consensus that billionaires and centimillionaires (not a word we use often, here at Spreadsheet Point) wield unprecedented financial power while billions struggle for basic economic stability. And while many observers have called for higher taxation on the ultra-wealthy and more aggressive wealth redistribution, some defend the ultra-wealthy as the most effective option for change via philanthropy.
Giving to philanthropic organizations is one way individuals can make immediate, direct impacts. For those with the means, adding a line item to an expense spreadsheet can make often immediate differences in their local communities.
And it’s not hard to find where to give. Some skeptics ask about where their money goes, and that’s reasonable. But food banks, like the Food Depository in Chicago, offer detailed financial reports to show the impact of financial donations.
The report’s authors argue that reducing inequality is not merely a matter of fairness but essential for economic resilience, democratic stability, and planetary survival. They note that the tools to address inequality already exist: public investment in education and health, effective taxation, and redistribution programs have all proven effective.
The report calculates that a 3% global tax on fewer than 100,000 centimillionaires and billionaires would raise $750 billion annually, roughly equivalent to the entire education budget of low and middle-income countries.
What makes this moment different is the scale and urgency with which leading economists are framing the problem. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz has called for an international panel comparable to the UN’s climate body to track inequality and provide evidence-based recommendations.
