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Billionaire fortunes soared to a record $10.2tn during the pandemic – here’s how they grew their wealth

The number of billionaires reached 2,189 up from 2,158 in 2017

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is still the richest person in the world
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is still the richest person in the world Photo: Saul Loeb/Getty Images

Billionaire wealth soared to a record $10.2tn at the end of July after asset values bounced back following a coronavirus-induced dip, according to a report from Swiss bank UBS and accountancy firm PwC.

The plunge in the equity markets in February and March, triggered by the realisation that the pandemic was going to be a global disaster, caused combined billionaire wealth to fall 6.6% to $8tn.

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