The number of billionaires rose by 7% to 2,544 people globally, UBS said in its 2023 Billionaires Ambitions Report, with their total worth rising by 9% to an estimated $12 trillion. For the first time since the study started in 2015, billionaires accumulated more wealth via inheritance than through their own business activities. Among the 137 new billionaires, a total of $150.8 billion was inherited by 53 heirs over the last year, exceeding the 84 new self-made billionaires' total of $140.7 billion, the bank said. The study highlighted a trend away from self-made billionaires, created by the tech industry boom and symbolised by the rise of Tesla boss Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Still, despite the large inherited wealth, this did not necessarily mean a new generation of super-rich 20 somethings.

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Persons: Denis Balibouse, Benjamin Cavalli, Cavalli, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Michael Viana, King Charles, John Revill, David Evans Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, REUTERS, Rights, UBS Global Wealth Management, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Swiss, Zurich, Switzerland, flotations