The world is becoming increasingly preoccupied by the lives of the rich and famous;
the more sensational the detail the better. Fuelling this trend is the growing
omnipotence of an internet that streams a non-stop flow of gossip and photographs,
authorised or not. Some of the super-rich, those whose wealth derives from their
celebrity status, actively encourage it, but for most the intrusion is unwelcome.
Last year, around 15 people a day joined the ranks of the ultra-wealthy, or
those worth over US$30m. This growth is set to continue in the coming decade,
with the global population of ultra-highnet-worth individuals forecast to climb by
34% to a total of almost 231,000.In developing countries significant
amounts of wealth are already being created by a growing and increasingly
aspirational middle class.
