Dialogos

Record Wealth of Billionaires Fuels Inequality

Published January 19, 2026, 07:00
Record Wealth of Billionaires Fuels Inequality

The wealth of billionaires reached an unprecedented level in 2025, raising concerns about increasing inequality and undermining political freedom, according to the NGO Oxfam. Oxfam's report focuses on the policies of US President Donald Trump, who is expected to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. According to Oxfam, the 12 richest billionaires own more wealth than the poorest half of humanity, or approximately 4 billion people. The total wealth of billionaires exceeded $18.3 trillion, an increase of 16.2%, three times faster than the previous five years. At the same time, the organization points out that billionaires are much more likely to hold political office compared to ordinary citizens, especially in the US, where the Trump administration included several billionaires. In Davos, where the WEF is taking place, the most powerful and wealthy people in the world gather to discuss issues of global importance, such as the economy and the climate, but without democratic legitimacy. Protesters are demonstrating against the presence of Donald Trump and the increase in inequality.