A centimillionaire is commonly described as someone with at least US$100 million in wealth; a billionaire has at least US$1 billion. The thresholds differ by a factor of ten. Published counts vary because some reports count liquid investable assets while others measure net worth, and their dates and methods differ.
The wealth thresholds
"Centimillionaire" generally refers to an individual with wealth of US$100 million or more. "Billionaire" means wealth of US$1 billion or more. In the excerpt below, a speaker at a Family Office Club event defines centimillionaires as people with US$100 million net worth.
The threshold alone does not describe what someone owns or how the number was calculated. Henley & Partners defines wealth in its centi-millionaire reporting as liquid investable wealth, including listed holdings, cash, and debt-free residential property. (Henley & Partners, 2024) Knight Frank's figures, by contrast, count net worth. That difference matters when comparing reported totals. (Knight Frank, 2025)
How many are there?
Counts depend on the definition and reporting method. Henley & Partners counted 29,350 people worldwide with at least US$100 million in liquid investable assets in 2024. (Henley & Partners, 2024) Knight Frank reported that the number of people worth US$100 million or more on a net-worth basis exceeded 100,000 for the first time, after rising 4.2% in 2024. (Knight Frank, 2025)
These totals are not directly comparable: they use different measures of wealth. Richard C. Wilson has also offered a higher estimate in a video, saying there are over 100,000 centimillionaire families globally but only about 50,000 "that we know about." That is his view, not a count from either report. Counts of "families" and "individuals" also describe different units.
Why the distinction can be useful
The difference can help frame conversations about private wealth, but the label alone does not tell you how a person invests, runs a business, or organizes family assets. Henley & Partners reported that over 60% of centi-millionaires are entrepreneurs and company founders. (Henley & Partners, 2024) That suggests many reached this level through company ownership, though it does not describe every individual.
For a simple comparison, picture one person with US$100 million in qualifying wealth and another with US$1 billion. The first meets the centimillionaire threshold; the second meets the billionaire threshold. A person worth US$1 billion also exceeds the US$100 million threshold, but the terms distinguish two wealth brackets.
From Family Office Club events
"That's what people never talk about is centimillionaires, which are $100 million net worth individuals."
Sources
- Henley & Partners, Centi-Millionaire Report 2024. henleyglobal.com
- Knight Frank, The Wealth Report 2025. knightfrank.com
- Family Office Club event transcript
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