Global household wealth reached $570 trillion in 2025, climbing $40 trillion in a single year with a 7.3% increase that significantly outpaced the historical average of 5.9%. According to the McKinsey Global Institute report, only 20% of this wealth gain came from actual productive investment, while 58% came from valuation gains on existing assets. Stock markets were the primary driver of wealth creation, accounting for 57% of total growth, with particularly high concentration in the US where equities reached 3.7 times GDP. The report outlines four possible future scenarios, with only an AI-driven productivity acceleration offering genuinely optimistic prospects. Structural divergences between the US and China raise concerns about inequality, as equity gains disproportionately benefit wealthy households.
Source: Read the original article
