Callback
Contact
+1 514 288 1997
Philippe Amarante is Managing Partner at Henley & Partners Middle East.
The elite club of centi-millionaires — individuals with liquid investable assets exceeding USD 100 million — has become perhaps the most influential wealth segment globally. With 30,450 current members worldwide, this exclusive group continues to reshape cities, economies, and investment migration patterns in profound ways.
What makes this cohort particularly significant is their outsized impact on global wealth creation. Our research reveals that most companies listed on the Fortune 500, S&P 500, FTSE 100, and Nikkei 225 were established by entrepreneurs who ultimately became centi-millionaires. These wealth creators don’t simply accumulate capital — they transform economies, drive innovation, and increasingly shape the destinations they choose as home bases.
The USA’s dominance in the global centi-millionaire landscape remains unchallenged, with American cities claiming all three top positions in our latest ranking of Centi-Millionaire Hotspots. New York City leads decisively with 818 resident centi-millionaires, followed by the Bay Area (encompassing San Francisco and Silicon Valley) with 756 and Los Angeles with 516.
This concentration of super-wealth in American urban centers reflects several converging factors: the extraordinary performance of US financial markets (the S&P 500 surged 183% between 2014 and 2024), the continued magnetism of America’s innovation hubs, and a regulatory environment that, despite recent challenges, still rewards entrepreneurship and wealth creation at scales difficult to match elsewhere.
Beyond the coastal powerhouses, America’s centi-millionaire geography reveals interesting patterns. Chicago holds steady as the nation’s next largest ultra-wealth center with 295 centis, while Houston has emerged as a serious contender with 210 — outranking traditional financial centers like Boston. Miami, with 180 centi-millionaires and projected 100%+ growth over the next decade, exemplifies the pandemic-accelerated shift towards sunbelt states with favorable tax regimes.
The resilience of American wealth creation suggests that despite predictions of decline, the USA is unlikely to be dethroned as the global centi capital in the foreseeable future.
Perhaps the most remarkable story in our latest World’s Wealthiest Cities Report comes from Asia, where several cities have established themselves as formidable super-wealth hubs. Hong Kong (SAR China) ranks 5th globally with 346 centi-millionaires, despite recent geopolitical uncertainties. Singapore follows in 6th place with 333 centi-millionaires — a remarkable achievement for a relatively nascent city-state spanning just 290 square miles.
Singapore’s extraordinary concentration of centis stems from dual strategic advantages: its established prominence as an international wealth management hub and its increasing appeal as a destination for Asian ultra-high-net-worth individuals prioritizing jurisdictional stability, robust asset protection frameworks, and advantageous tax structures.
The rise of mainland China’s wealth centers continues unabated, with Beijing (316 centis) and Shanghai (293 centis) claiming 7th and 9th positions, respectively. Of particular note are the emerging technology hubs Shenzhen (156 centis) and Hangzhou (104 centis), both forecast for 100%+ growth in their centi-millionaire populations over the next 10 years. Cities like these signal China’s successful transition from manufacturing-based wealth to technology- and innovation-driven fortunes.
Europe represents a study in contrasts. London maintains its position as the continent’s leading centi-millionaire hotspot, and 4th globally, with 352 centi residents, yet its growth forecast falls well below that of its peers, reflecting broader concerns about the UK’s economic trajectory and regulatory environment following Brexit.
Continental Europe’s representation shows both traditional strength and emerging vulnerability. Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region secures 10th place with 277 centi-millionaires, while Switzerland demonstrates remarkable concentration of ultra-wealth across Geneva (215), Zurich (180), and smaller cantons like Zug (45).
Perhaps most telling is Monaco’s performance — with just 0.78 square miles of territory, this Mediterranean principality hosts an astonishing 192 centi-millionaires. This translates to the highest per-capita concentration of ultra-wealth globally and underscores the micro-state’s enduring appeal as a tax-friendly jurisdiction with strong privacy protections.
Looking beyond the established centers, our growth forecasts over the next decade (2025 to 2035) reveal the emerging new geography of super-wealth. Dubai (237 centis) and Abu Dhabi (75 centis) lead the pack of high-growth centers, both projected to see their centi-millionaire populations more than double over the next 10 years. This Middle Eastern wealth shift reflects the region’s strategic pivot toward becoming a global financial center, combined with zero income and capital gains taxes.
In India, Bengaluru’s modest current count of 43 centi-millionaires belies its explosive 100%+ growth forecast, signaling the maturation of India’s tech ecosystem and the emergence of a new generation of digital entrepreneurs. Similar trajectories are visible in emerging European centers like Warsaw (32 centis) and Athens (42 centis), both projected to enjoy extraordinary growth.
Particularly notable are smaller cities providing targeted investment migration pathways. St. Julian’s and Sliema in Malta (40 centis), George Town and Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands (40 centis), and Lugano in Switzerland (40 centis) are all forecast to see 100%+ growth rates in their centi-millionaire populations — suggesting that citizenship and residence planning has become a core strategy for the global centi class.
Our World’s Wealthiest Cities Report reveals a clear pattern: centi-millionaires are increasingly prioritizing jurisdictional diversification alongside traditional asset class diversification. The concentration of 100%+ growth forecasts in cities offering residence and citizenship by investment programs is no coincidence.
Factors drawing these ultra-wealthy individuals to specific locations extend beyond tax considerations. Certainty of property rights, rule of law, geopolitical stability, quality healthcare and education, as well as lifestyle amenities all rank highly in location decisioning. More recently, physical security has increased in importance, particularly for centi-millionaires from politically volatile regions.
The world’s centi-millionaires are increasingly designing their geographical footprints with the same strategic care they apply to their investment portfolios — diversifying presence across multiple jurisdictions to mitigate risk while maximizing opportunity.
As we look forward to the next decade, the centi-millionaire map will continue to evolve in response to both macro-economic trends and individual mobility decisions. While established centers like New York and the Bay Area will maintain their prominence, the fastest growth will occur in emerging hubs offering favorable regulatory environments and strategic global positioning.
The trajectory is clear: centi-millionaires are increasingly voting with their feet, establishing residences in jurisdictions that not only preserve their wealth but enable its continued growth. This mobility imperative drives both the individuals themselves and the professional services ecosystem — including investment migration advisors — that has evolved to support their increasingly complex, multi-jurisdictional lives.
For governments worldwide, the lesson is equally clear: attracting and retaining this elite wealth cohort requires more than short-term tax incentives. It demands a comprehensive approach to governance, security, education, healthcare, and quality of life — the very factors that transform cities from mere destinations into true centi-millionaire capitals.
Cities and countries that offer investment migration options will always be top of mind for the world’s super-rich. In an era where wealth is more mobile than ever, ultra-high-net-worth individuals are seeking long-term stability, global connectivity, and strategic jurisdictional diversification. Those nations that provide investment migration pathways, backed by strong governance, economic freedom, and world-class infrastructure, will continue to attract the elite wealth creators who shape industries and economies. Simply put, the cities that make it easy to enter, invest, and thrive will remain the ones that the world’s wealthiest choose to call home.
Henley & Partners assists international clients in obtaining residence and citizenship under the respective programs. Contact us to arrange an initial private consultation.
