Europe is home to over one-fifth of the world’s billionaires. Germany leads the continent and ranks fourth globally in billionaire numbers.
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Wealth inequality is a significant issue worldwide, including in Europe. The richest 1% of the population hold at least 20% of the wealth in almost all European countries, and in many cases, this share exceeds 25%, according to Our World in Data.
Across Europe, many countries have dozens of billionaires. So, which three European countries host the most billionaires? And how many does each country have?
According to Forbes, the world counts over 3,000 billionaires in 2025, collectively worth $16.1 trillion (€13.7tn). Yet this vast concentration of wealth is heavily skewed: just three countries — the US, China, and India — account for more than half of all billionaires and their combined fortunes.
Forbes’ billionaire list is based on US dollar estimates, reflecting individuals’ citizenship, not their country of residence.
Germany hosts most billionaires in Europe
Europe’s strongest showing in the global ranking comes from Germany. The country has the most billionaires in Europe, with 171 in total, holding a combined net worth of €676.4 billion. Germany’s richest person is Dieter Schwarz, with a fortune of €35bn ($41bn), ranking 37th in the world.
Italy ranks second in Europe with 74 dollar billionaires. Their total net worth is €289bn ($339bn), and Italy’s richest person is Giovanni Ferrero, with €32.6bn ($38.2bn). He ranks 41st in the world.
The UK is home to 55 billionaires, with a combined net worth of €203bn ($238bn or £177bn). The country’s richest individual is Michael Platt, whose fortune is estimated at £14bn (€16bn). Globally, he holds the 106th position.
French billionaire Arnault ranks fifth worldwide
France counts 52 billionaires in 2025, ranking fourth in Europe. The country’s richest individual is Bernard Arnault, head of the LVMH luxury empire, which owns Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Sephora, and many other global brands. His fortune stands at €152bn ($178bn), making him the fifth richest person in the world — after topping the list in 2024. Arnault is often drawn into the debate around a wealth tax in France, a measure he strongly opposes.
Germany, Italy, the UK, and France are the only nations in Europe with more than 50 billionaires.
Sweden and Switzerland follow the top four, with 45 and 42 billionaires respectively.
Stefan Persson is Sweden’s richest person, with a fortune of €15.9bn. In Switzerland, Gianluigi Aponte and Rafaela Aponte-Diamant share the top spot, each holding wealth of €32.2bn, placing them 44th globally.
Spain doesn't make top five
Among Europe’s five largest economies, Spain has the fewest billionaires — 34 in total — placing it 7th in the European ranking. Amancio Ortega, with a net worth of €106bn, is Spain’s richest individual and ranks 9th in the world.
Turkey, meanwhile, counts 32 billionaires.
After Turkey, the numbers drop sharply, with Norway next on the list at just 17 billionaires.
The number of billionaires in other European countries is as follows: Greece (16); the Netherlands (13); Ireland, Belgium, and Czechia (11 each); Poland and Cyprus (10 each); Austria and Denmark (9 each); Finland (7); Romania (6); Hungary (4); Slovakia and Bulgaria (2 each); and Portugal, Luxembourg, Croatia, Iceland, and Albania (1 each).
Among these countries, Austria’s richest individual, Mark Mateschitz, has a net worth of €34.6bn, placing him 38th in the global ranking.
These figures show that Western and Northern European countries dominate the list of billionaires, with Germany, Italy, the UK, France, and Sweden together accounting for 61% of Europe’s total. Eastern Europe lags significantly behind.
Role of economic size
The results suggest that the economic size of a country is one of the key factors explaining differences between nations. The four European countries with the most billionaires also rank among the continent’s five largest economies, although their rankings in GDP and billionaire counts do not align perfectly.
The UK and Switzerland are also two of Europe’s leading financial hubs.
On the other hand, UBS’s Billionaire Ambitions Report 2024 presents different figures, as it reflects 2024 data and uses a different methodology to Forbes.
According to UBS, Germany still leads the ranking with 117 billionaires, while Switzerland ranks second with 85. Other countries include the UK (82), Italy (62), France (46), Sweden (28), and Spain (27).
