Stack of Australian dollars
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An entire generation of Australians is set to become millionaires overnight without any effort in the near future, but they will handle their newfound wealth very differently compared to other age demographics.

This was highlighted in the World Wealth Report 2025, released today by technology and consulting firm Capgemini, which explores the value of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) and their plans for spending their inheritance.

In Australia, the number of HNWIs has risen by 0.5 per cent to 334,800 individuals who are worth more than $US1 trillion combined.

Stack of Australian dollars
There will be a huge transfer of wealth in Australia over coming decades, with new generations becoming millionaires. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Among these, 30,240 individuals are recognized as “mid-tier millionaires,” possessing anywhere from $US5 million ($7.7 million) to $US30 million, and there are 2,450 individuals with wealth exceeding $US30 million.

Within the next 20 years across Australia, they will drive a huge transfer of wealth.

By 2030 in Australia, 22 per cent of HNWIs will receive an inheritance, rising to 69 per cent in 2035 and 80 per cent by 2040.

Australia is now home to 161 billionaires, the 2025 AFR rich list has revealed - but who makes up the top ten? Click through to find out.

Revealed: The top ten richest people in Australia

That will mirror a trend across the world involving an unprecedented transfer of wealth to Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z, or next-gen investors.

The report said $US83.5 trillion will change hands over the next two decades, creating the next generation of HNWIs.

But they have far different expectations about investing their money compared with previous generations.

Next-gen investors are less risk adverse, willing to invest in cryptocurrencies, experts say.

They are willing to take more risks to expand their wealth, including investing in private equity and cryptocurrencies, the report says.

“The great wealth transfer will be a defining moment for the industry,” the chief executive of Capgemini’s Financial Services Strategic Business Unit, Kartik Ramakrishnan, said.

“Despite global wealth on the rise, 81 per cent of inheritors plan to switch firms within one to two years of inheritance.

“Potentially losing these unsatisfied clients is going to create significant risk for the global wealth management sector.”

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