If you want to be rich, watch where the super-rich are investing

• Knight Frank’s Wealth Report shows that the largest part of the super-rich portfolios' consists of investment in property.
• Equities is a close second accounting for 23% of asset value in portfolios.
• Investors are also looking to foreign markets with the US attracting the most amount of cross-border private capital.

The global economy may be slowing down but it’s not keeping the rich from getting richer. Even with the GDP growth forecast at a ten-year low, the world’s population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) — people with net worth is over $30 million, also called the super-rich — increased by 6.4% in 2019.

Data from Knight Frank’s Wealth Report shows that 31,000 additional super-rich individuals were created last year bringing the total just over half a million. And, the largest part of their portfolios consists of investment in property with equities being a close second.


Chasing better returns, most of these investors are eyeing looking to foreign markets. Those with experience are willing to push the envelope beyond safe-haven markets.

“Investors with experience, particularly out of Singapore, are happy investing across asset classes in different locations. These are markets where we see demand growing the coming years,” said Neil Brookes, head of APAC capital markets at Knight Frank.

When it comes to cities New York and London lead the pack. They are the only two cities with “Alpha+++” status according to the World Cities Research Network’s city classification.

Beating out its cousin across the Atlantic, the business capital of the world attracts the highest amount of private investment in real estate in each city. However, Knight Frank points out that smaller and more agile cities are fighting their way to the top by attracting and retaining the best talent.

See also:
Diamond-studded handbags and Pink Floyd guitars — here’s what the world’s super rich are buying at auctions