{
  "id": 3722161,
  "title": "There are a record 3,795 billionaires in the world right now—and just like Jeff Bezos, their favorite investments are sports and philanthropy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/there-are-a-record-3-795-billionaires-in-the-world-right-now-and-just",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-27T09:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/08/27/record-3795-billionaires-in-the-world-like-jeff-bezos-favorite-investments-sports-and-philanthropy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2025, the world witnessed an unprecedented surge in billionaire wealth, with the total count soaring to a record 3,795 individuals, according to Altrata's wealth intelligence firm. The combined fortune of these ultra-wealthy individuals reached a staggering $15.1 trillion, representing nearly a quarter of the S&P 500's market capitalization.\n\nThe report attributes this unprecedented growth to the rapid expansion of investments in artificial intelligence, which has propelled billionaire wealth generation. Notable superbillionaires, such as Larry Page of Google, Elon Musk of Tesla, and the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, have been at the forefront of this AI-driven wealth boom.\n\nBeyond their astronomical fortunes, these billionaires have developed two notable pastimes: acquiring stakes in professional sports teams and engaging in philanthropic activities. The report highlights that sports ownership has become a symbol of wealth and influence for this elite class, offering a \"trophy asset\" that allows them to connect with powerful networks in business, politics, and society.\n\nLarry Page, for instance, has invested significantly in the Premier League, owning nearly 40% of Liverpool FC, one of the world's most prestigious football clubs. Jeff Bezos, the third-richest person globally, has also made substantial philanthropic contributions through his Bezos Earth Fund, focusing on climate change and environmental conservation.\n\nOther prominent figures, such as Steve Ballmer and Robert Kraft, exemplify this dual focus on sports ownership and charitable giving. Ballmer, a former Microsoft CEO, has donated billions to various causes, including economic mobility for American children and families living in poverty. Kraft, a former Microsoft executive, has contributed over $1 billion to healthcare, prison reform, and combating antisemitism.\n\nThis story was originally reported by Fortune.com.",
  "summary": "Billionaires from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to businessman Robert Kraft are spending their fortunes buying sports teams and funding charitable causes.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}