Billionaire wives are about to inherit a huge slice of the $6.6 trillion great wealth transfer—and 1,235 women stand to cash in by 2035

In just a decade, the world's wealthiest individuals will have transferred a staggering $6.6 trillion to their heirs, according to a recent report by Altrata. This transfer will primarily benefit women and Gen Xers, with about 1,235 wives and adult children set to inherit from the current 3,795 billionaires. The growing frequency of inter-generational estate transfers and family gifting will lead to more billionaires inheriting part of their wealth in the years to come.

Women are particularly poised to gain from this wealth transfer, as only 13% of current billionaires are women. With men over 60 dominating the ultra-rich cohort, over 1,235 female spouses will inherit a significant portion of billionaire fortunes by 2035. This growing female representation in wealth could lead to greater diversity in decision-making and ownership, sparking more entrepreneurial activity and philanthropic endeavors among wealthy women.

Meanwhile, billionaire children, particularly Gen Xers, are also set to benefit from this wealth. These adult heirs, often around 48 years old, work alongside their parents in family businesses, inheriting a combination of real estate, shares in listed companies, private businesses, and investment portfolios. As these next-generation billionaires become more digitally savvy and focused on impact investing, they may reshape how the family fortune is invested, spent, and put to work in a rapidly changing world.