Ultra-wealthy whales: What’s considered ultra-high net worth?

“When Lambo?” is a common meme among crypto holders dreaming of wealth beyond their wildest expectations. And while some investors have seen massive gains from digital assets, not everyone is wealthy enough to splurge on a Lamborghini. But for diamond hands who've become millionaires thanks to digital assets, buying a luxury car (or two) probably isn’t much of a stretch.

Whether you hold crypto or not, once your wealth hits a certain level, you’re considered ultra-high net worth – and that status comes with serious perks. Such wealth also brings added pressure, especially during tax season.

In this guide, we’ll explain what's considered ultra-high net worth and what it means to be part of this exclusive group.

What’s an ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI)?

The official definition of a UHNWI is someone with a net worth of $30 million or more, meaning if they liquidated all their investable assets, including properties, businesses, and investments, they'd easily hit that mark.

While it doesn’t matter how UHNWIs acquire their wealth, they’re often among the world’s most influential entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors. Because UHNWIs make up the smallest and most elite financial class globally, they also have access to highly exclusive investment opportunities.

What’s considered a high-net-worth individual? Very-high-net-worth statistics 

Many financial institutions reserve ultra-high-net-worth status for the wealthiest high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). While the thresholds to become high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals are substantial, the bar for HNWIs starts significantly lower – at $1 million in investable assets. Between these two tiers is another designation: very-high-net-worth individuals (VHNWIs), which includes millionaires whose wealth is between $5 million and just under $30 million.

Recent data suggest there are 38.1 million HNWIs worldwide, but only about 426,330 fall into the UHNWI category. Most UHNWIs live in North America or Asia and account for the largest share of global wealth.

Examples of UHNWIs

Not all UHNWIs are in the spotlight, but some are easy to spot on lists of the world’s wealthiest. Here are three you probably know – and what they’re worth (as of this writing):

Jeff Bezos

Best known as the founder of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos has an estimated net worth exceeding $200 billion (at the time of writing) and frequently ranks among the richest people on earth. Beyond his pioneering role in e-commerce, Bezos is also involved in space exploration via Blue Origin and in media as the owner of The Washington Post.

Mark Zuckerberg

Accusations from the Winklevoss twins aside, Mark Zuckerberg is the mind behind the social media platform Facebook. Through Facebook parent company Meta, he also oversees other major platforms like Instagram. Current estimates place his net worth at over $200 billion.

Warren Buffett 

As chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett is widely regarded as one of Wall Street’s most successful investors. With major stakes in companies like Apple, Geico, and Bank of America, Buffett’s fortune has continued to grow – now estimated at over $150 billion.

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How do UHNWIs invest?

Deciding what to include in a portfolio is always personal, but there are a few common themes in the types of assets UHNWIs tend to favor. Most notably, they emphasize diversification – spreading out risk to ensure long-term growth across various economic conditions. In other words, it’s unlikely that a UHNWI reached their level of wealth through a single lucky investment or one source of income.

Primary and secondary homes

Real estate has long been one of the world’s most desirable asset classes. Thanks to its history of price appreciation and potential for rental income, it’s common for UHNWIs to own multiple properties as a way to store and grow wealth. Beyond investment value and lifestyle appeal, owning a residence in a foreign country may also make it easier for UHNWIs to secure citizenship or residency rights.

Stocks and bonds

As two of the most accessible asset classes in traditional finance, stocks and bonds are often core components of a UHNWI’s portfolio. But these individuals don’t just invest in public companies – many start their own businesses and hold majority ownership. UHNWIs also have access to pre-IPO investments that aren’t available to the general public. To help offset stock market volatility, they often include high-quality government or corporate bonds for stable, year-round income.

Alternative assets

Although UHNWIs hold many traditional investments, research suggests they’re more willing to take risks in emerging sectors and technologies. Some estimates show the wealthiest individuals may hold up to 50% of their net worth in alternative assets, ranging from high-risk or high-reward investments like crypto to safe havens like fine art and precious metals. While these assets aren’t as liquid as stocks or bonds, they add valuable diversification to a portfolio.

Accredited-only investments 

Thanks to their wealth, UHNWIs gain access to exclusive investment categories. If they meet the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) definition of an “accredited investor” – which all UHNWIs do by default – they can invest in opportunities not available through traditional brokerages. These may include specialized real estate funds, hedge funds, and venture capital.

Tax and investment challenges for UHNWIs

With more capital under their control, UHNWIs must be especially cautious about wealth management and report their taxes. To help preserve wealth and avoid costly errors, many work with professional accounting teams to handle all aspects of financial reporting.

Complex tax planning and diversification

UHNWIs aren't just in a higher tax bracket – these individuals have to deal with more intricate tax structures due to their diverse and global income sources. While diversity is a key strength in wealth creation, reporting all these transfers is also more challenging. Keeping tax liabilities low often requires sophisticated strategies like tax-efficient vehicles or charitable giving to keep the bulk of yearly gains.

Estate and succession planning 

UHNWIs frequently use trusts and structured inheritance plans to simplify the transfer of their wealth. These strategies often come with unique tax and legal considerations, including estate taxes and probate laws, which must be carefully managed to reduce conflict and optimize outcomes for beneficiaries.

Regulatory challenges

Because of their wealth, UHNWIs often face greater scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions. They must stay compliant with an evolving set of global regulations – including anti-money laundering (AML) laws and international tax reporting requirements like the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

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Disclaimer: This post is informational only and is not intended as tax advice. For tax advice, please consult a tax professional.