August 4, 2025 – Gunjan Banerji, The Wall Street Journal
Altrata’s wealth intelligence was recently cited in The Wall Street Journal’s in-depth analysis of U.S. billionaires.
According to Altrata estimates, the population of ultrahigh net worth individuals (those with more than $30 million in assets) reached a record high in 2024, part of a multiyear surge in wealth creation driven by strong equity and crypto markets. This expanding cohort is fueling unprecedented spending on private aviation, now viewed as the ultimate status symbol among the world’s richest.
- A luxury dividing line: “Private-jet money” has become a cultural benchmark separating the wealthy from the ultra-wealthy, surpassing splurges like supercars, designer goods, or Hamptons real estate.
- Sustained post-pandemic demand: Private-jet hours hit an all-time high in 2022 and have remained elevated as affluent travelers who embraced private flying for safety and convenience are unwilling to return to commercial.
- A growing market of buyers: Rising UHNW and billionaire populations are turning to wealth managers and family offices to charter jets, purchase fractional ownership, or buy aircraft outright — with concierge and financing support now integrated into wealth-management services.
- Lifestyle drivers: Bespoke in-flight amenities, social media influence, and the desire for time savings and personal freedom are reinforcing private aviation as the preferred mode of travel for the ultrawealthy.
The Wall Street Journal leveraged Altrata’s wealth intelligence to illustrate how record wealth creation continues to shape spending patterns and lifestyle trends across this influential segment.
Write to Gunjan Banerji at [email protected]
Read the original published article here.
