Swiss high-end ski resorts, art auction houses, and luxury shopping may still be a playground for the super-rich. But the number of them making a home in Switzerland is down.
Switzerland just barely eked out a top-tend spot of places the super-rich live, according to a study by consulting firm WealthX. Just 6,145 of them called the alpine nation home last year, a drop of 4 percent on the year. Their assets also fell to $808 billion, a drop of nearly 8 percent.
The consulting firm looked at 265,490 globally who possess more than $30 million – so-called ultra-high net worth people. Nearly three-quarters of the world's super-rich live in just 10 countries (see graph below).
Bumped by Italy
Switzerland was booted down one spot in the ranking by Italy, which benefited from more ultra-wealthy (6,270 people) and in turn more funds ($708 billion). Germany was the only other country to bolster its stats.
The U.S. defended its top spot with 81,340 people – a rise of 2.2 percent. The powerhouse is home to one-third of the world's rich, who hold $9.84 billion – an 0.1 percent drop on the year.
Hong Kong's Rich
You're far more likely to run into one of the super-rich in Switzerland, thanks to its population of just 8 million, than other countries (see graph below). The country is home to 848 of them for every 1 million residents – a density outdone (dramatically) only by Hong Kong. For every 1 million residents, the territory is home to 1,364 ultra-rich people.
