The wealth of billionaires breaks records, poverty deepens

The wealth of the world's billionaires grew by a record 16 percent to $18.3 trillion in 2025, further deepening economic and political inequalities, according to Oxfam.

A report published on the occasion of the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos points out that the number of billionaires exceeded three thousand for the first time and Elon Musk became the first person with a fortune exceeding $500 billion.

At the same time, however, almost half of the world's population lives in poverty, and one in four people struggles with food insecurity. Oxfam also blames Donald Trump's second administration for the inequalities, which cut taxes, protected multinational corporations, and limited the regulation of monopolies.

The organization calls for the introduction of wealth taxes, stricter lobbying rules, and the strengthening of democratic mechanisms.

It also points to the growing influence of billionaires on the media—more than half of the world's major media companies are owned by ultra-rich individuals.

(reuters, mja)