Illustrative photo. Photo source: Dreamstime.com
“We are witnessing the largest migration of private capital in history,” warn economic experts. Young billionaires are leading this massive exodus to safe “refuges”, abandoning the great powers to protect their fortunes in 2026, according to CNBC, quoted by News.ro.
A report by the Swiss bank UBS shows that more than a third of the world's billionaires have already moved at least once, reports the American economic television, CNBC. Specifically, 36% of the richest people on the planet have changed their country, and another 9% plan to do so soon.
Among young billionaires, up to 54 years old, the percentage of those who have already moved is even higher, reaching 44%. Specialists from the consulting firm Henley & Partners confirm this historic wave: in the last year, applications for obtaining a new citizenship or residency increased by 28%, coming from people of 218 different nationalities.
Why are the rich running away?
The main factor behind this record migration is geopolitics and the speed with which things are changing, explain experts consulted by CNBC. Tax regimes and economic rules can now change in a single political cycle, and wealthy families treat this risk as they would a financial risk: by diversification.
The decision to choose a new country increasingly depends on criteria such as neutrality, strong institutions and the strength of the rule of law. If in the past moves were aimed at profit, the consultants state that now the rich are acting defensively: “current moves are aimed at asset protection, generational continuity and operational flexibility”.
The map of the new financial havens
An important example is the UK, where the removal of tax breaks has caused a massive exodus of the wealthy. Henley & Partners estimates that 16,500 millionaires will leave the country in 2026, far more than the 9,500 who left last year.
In the US, a deep erosion of trust in the political and financial systems is fueling the same phenomenon. The percentage of US citizens in the diaspora considering renouncing their citizenship rose to 49% in 2026, up from 30% the previous year.
Leading the way is the United Arab Emirates, described as the biggest draw: no income or wealth tax and a very flexible visa program. Experts estimate that 9,800 millionaires will move here in 2026, the largest number in the world.
In Europe, Italy, Monaco and Switzerland attract families looking for clear tax rules, while Portugal and Greece remain popular for their investment programs. Singapore continues to be the destination of choice for those looking for solid banks, even if the barriers to entry are getting higher.
In addition to the classic destinations, new options are emerging: Saudi Arabia has already offered more than 8,000 residence permits for investors, while the Caribbean islands are sought after by the wealthy to quickly obtain a second passport as a safety measure.
