The Great Wealth Shift: How $100 Trillion Will Reshape Global Riches by 2048

The numbers tell a striking story. Right now, baby boomers command 45% of the world’s ultra-wealthy population—those individuals with net worth exceeding $30 million. That’s nearly double the share held by Gen X, and it reflects decades of real estate appreciation and market gains. But here’s what’s about to shake everything up: by 2048, this landscape will flip completely.

According to the Altrata World Ultra Wealth Report 2025, boomers’ share will collapse to just 17%, while Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z will collectively command 80% of ultra-wealth. That’s not gradual change—that’s a seismic restructuring of who holds power over capital for the next two decades.

The $100 Trillion Question

Behind this shift sits one phenomenon: the Great Wealth Transfer. Between now and 2048, approximately $100 trillion in wealth accumulated during the boomer era will pass to younger generations. This isn’t just cash sitting in bank accounts—it encompasses private business ownership, real estate holdings, and securities accumulated over lifetimes of building.

Think of it as European lions finally passing the territory to the next generation of hunters. The wealth created under one era’s rules is about to be wielded by those operating under completely different economic conditions and values.

What Actually Happens When the Money Changes Hands?

The implications ripple across entire economies. Younger beneficiaries face a paradox: they’re inheriting capital without having earned it themselves, which creates both extraordinary opportunity and genuine risk.

On the opportunity side, recipients gain the ability to experiment—starting ventures, funding ideas, taking calculated risks that those without a financial cushion simply cannot afford. On the risk side, inheritors who’ve never had to generate wealth themselves can lose perspective on its actual value, potentially squandering what took generations to build.

The housing market feels this already. Some experts predict the Great Wealth Transfer could ease housing supply shortages as inheritors deploy capital into real estate. But affordability—the real challenge—remains fundamentally unsolved.

Beyond Money: The Hidden Challenge

Here’s what most discussions miss: inheritance isn’t just a financial event. Families that fail to prepare psychologically for wealth transfer often watch it disappear. Beneficiaries need to develop actual financial literacy, tax strategy awareness, and emotional readiness to handle stewardship responsibly.

Smart families construct advisory teams early—financial advisors, estate attorneys, CPAs, sometimes even family dynamics specialists. They document intentions through legacy letters explaining where the wealth originated and how they hope it will be used.

Preparing Now, Benefiting Later

For those inheriting wealth: don’t assume anything until funds actually clear. Extended lifespans and long-term care costs frequently erode anticipated inheritances. Build a financial plan independent of the windfall first, then integrate it once received.

For wealth holders: formalize estate plans immediately. Revocable trusts bypass probate complications. Include wills, durable financial powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. For business owners, succession planning becomes non-negotiable—especially when real estate assets complicate the picture.

The Great Wealth Transfer isn’t coming—it’s already underway. Those who recognize its magnitude and plan accordingly will position themselves not just to receive wealth, but to steward it wisely across generations.