• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

2

Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard

3

Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’

1

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

2

Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard

3

Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
Personal FinanceWealth

Millennials and Gen X will inherit $83.5 trillion in the next two decades—but not before spouses of the wealthy obtain their $9 trillion

Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 24, 2024, 9:03 AM ET
Smiling woman embracing senior man
Women, who are likely to outlive their husbands, will come into a large portion of the $9 trillion in horizontal inheritances. Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
  • More than $83 trillion will be passed down by 2050, but the first transfers of funds are likely to go to partners instead of offspring.

A windfall is on the cards for young people courtesy of a massive wealth transfer that will take place over the next two decades—but not before one specific demographic inherits its share.

According to UBS’s Global Wealth Report 2024, $83.5 trillion of wealth will be transferred to younger people within the next 20 to 25 years. And a significant chunk of this sum currently held by the boomer generation will be passed on within the next decade.

That is because people over age 75 (boomers and the Silent Generation) currently hold around a fifth of the world’s overall wealth. However, given that life expectancy tends to fall between ages 82 and 86, UBS wrote that this shift may occur sooner rather than later.

Currently, individuals passing on their wealth are just over 84 years old and are giving it to those around 59 (Gen X), UBS found. However, as the next 10 years unfold, wealth will be passed to younger generations, leading analysts to predict that millennials will become the “wealthiest generation in history.”

But while inheritance is often thought of as a downward chain from older to younger, there is also a horizontal element to inheritance.

UBS points out that given an age gap between couples, spouses often outlive their other halves, meaning that for an average of four years, one individual will often inherit a sum of money before passing it on.

“In total, an estimated $9 trillion of wealth will be transferred intra-generationally—or horizontally—between spouses,” UBS wrote, adding that this trend in the Americas is more pronounced than anywhere else on the planet.

It’s highly likely that wives in heterosexual married relationships are more likely than their husbands to be widowed and, thus, inherit the wealth.

This is due to several factors.

First, American women have an average life expectancy of 80.2 years compared to 74.8 years for men, so even if couples married at the same age, wives would be more likely to outlive their partners.

However, women are likely to be younger than men when they get married. According to Census Bureau data, the average age of a man when he first marries is a little over 30, whereas for women, it is around 28.

These factors result in the fact that in the coming wealth transfer, more than 10% of the $83.5 trillion sum will be passed on by women.

Americans set to get wealthier

The report from UBS also had some good news for consumers.

Not only is it easier to climb the wealth ladder than it is to fall back down it, but in the U.S. individuals across the income spectrum are set to get wealthier.

The result of this upward swell in wealth means that in America there will be more millionaires come the end of the decade than there are currently, meaning even greater sums are set to be passed on.

UBS found the chance of an individual upgrading from the lowest wealth bracket (under $10,000) was 61.7%. Those in the consecutive wealth bracket (who have between $10,000 and $100,000 in assets) also have a 37.1% chance of ascending to the next tier, with assets of between $100,000 and $1 million.

Those in the highest wealth bracket with more than $1 million have a 51.6% risk of falling out of that category into one of the lower tiers, though this eventuality is outweighed by the likelihood of those moving up.

The result is that the number of millionaires who call the U.S. home is expected to grow by 16% between 2023 and 2028, UBS adds, a leap from just under 21 million wealthy individuals to more than 25.4 million millionaires.

But it’s not just those with seven-figure fortunes who are growing their wealth: People across the asset spectrum are seeing their prosperity grow.

UBS found that between 2000 and 2023 the percentage of people in the lowest wealth bracket halved from over 75% to less than 40%, while individuals are also three times more likely to be classed as millionaires.

In the U.S., inequality still has some way to go, the report adds.

Its inequality index found that while Americans are more equal in 2023 than in 2000, the improvement is marginal.

Perfect equity on its index would represent a score of 0 on a spectrum of up to 100. The U.S. scored 76 in 2008 and 75 in 2023.

A version of this story originally published on Fortune.com on July 12, 2024.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Eleanor Pringle
By Eleanor PringleSenior Reporter, Economics and Markets
LinkedIn icon

Eleanor Pringle is an award-winning senior reporter at Fortune covering news, the economy, and personal finance. Eleanor previously worked as a business correspondent and news editor in regional news in the U.K. She completed her journalism training with the Press Association after earning a degree from the University of East Anglia.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Personal Finance

How soon after closing can you refinance a mortgage?
Personal Financemortgages
How soon after closing can you refinance a mortgage?
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
15 minutes ago
Top CD rates from major banks July 20, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on July 20, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
2 hours ago
Top CD rates today, July 20, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
Personal FinanceBanks
Top CD rates today, July 20, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 20, 2026
2 hours ago
The top high-yield savings rates: Up to 4.50% on July 20, 2026
Personal FinanceSavings accounts
The top high-yield savings rates: Up to 4.50% on July 20, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 20, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of Ethereum for July 20, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for July 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of Bitcoin for July 20, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for July 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
AI
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
2 days ago
Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
AI
Power companies are using eminent domain to seize land for data centers as 70% of Americans say not in my backyard
By Aaron Walayat and The ConversationJuly 19, 2026
1 day ago
Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
Success
Red Lobster’s 37-year-old CEO waited tables before joining the C-suite—he says it was a crash course in managing ‘difficult people and situations’
By Preston ForeJuly 19, 2026
1 day ago
Indeed chief economist: Aging Baby Boomers are America's real labor problem, not AI
Commentary
Indeed chief economist: Aging Baby Boomers are America's real labor problem, not AI
By Svenja GudellJuly 18, 2026
2 days ago
A decade after the ‘Godfather of AI’ said radiologists were obsolete, their salaries are up to $571K and demand is growing fast
AI
A decade after the ‘Godfather of AI’ said radiologists were obsolete, their salaries are up to $571K and demand is growing fast
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 19, 2026
23 hours ago
'Right to repair' is coming to cars, but there's still this big blind spot as consumers demand more autonomy
Politics
'Right to repair' is coming to cars, but there's still this big blind spot as consumers demand more autonomy
By Joshua HongJuly 19, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.