Deloitte estimated there were 8,030 single family offices worldwide in 2024. That figure covers single family offices, not every multi-family or virtual office. Counts depend on how "family office" is defined, so the number is best treated as an estimate rather than a complete global registry. (Deloitte, 2024)
What does the estimate count?
Deloitte's estimate is for single family offices (SFOs), which serve one family. Its 2024 report put the worldwide count at 8,030, up from 6,130 in 2019. It projected 9,030 for 2025 and 10,720 by 2030; those later figures are projections, not confirmed counts. (Deloitte, 2024)
Deloitte estimated 3,180 SFOs in North America, 2,290 in Asia Pacific, and 2,020 in Europe in 2024. The remaining regional estimates were 290 in the Middle East, 190 in South America, and 60 in Africa. (Deloitte, 2024)
These figures do not necessarily include every office that serves wealthy families. A multi-family office serves multiple families, while some families use a virtual office, coordinating outsourced services without a large in-house staff. The supplied global estimate is specifically for single family offices, so it should not be read as a count of all family office arrangements.
Why do published numbers differ?
There is no single count that captures every family office, and the estimate depends on what qualifies as one. Richard C. Wilson describes a lean single family office as having one or two, and no more than three, full-time professionals, with other services outsourced. That is one model, not a universal definition.
The number of very wealthy people is not a substitute for the number of family offices. Henley & Partners counted 29,350 people worldwide with at least US$100 million in liquid investable assets in 2024. Its measure covers liquid assets, including listed holdings, cash, and debt-free residential property. (Henley & Partners, 2024) Knight Frank, using net worth instead, reported that the number of people worth at least US$100 million surpassed 100,000 in 2024. (Knight Frank, 2025) These measures use different definitions and neither directly counts family offices.
Richard C. Wilson has separately expressed a higher estimate: the supplied note records his view that there are over 100,000 centimillionaire families globally, but only around 50,000 "that we know about." This is his opinion, not a sourced count of family offices. The Deloitte estimate is the clearest available figure here for single family offices.
From Family Office Club events
"We start hosting single -family offices some of each year, which is next month in New York on February 22nd, if you want to attend. And we'd put 25 single family offices on stage, sharing what they're doing, what they're investing in, et cetera."
Sources
- Deloitte, Family Office Insights Series: Global Edition 2024. deloitte.com
- Henley & Partners, Centi-Millionaire Report 2024. henleyglobal.com
- Knight Frank, The Wealth Report 2025. knightfrank.com
- Family Office Club event transcript
- Family Office Club event transcript
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