The Republic of Ireland is amongst the ten countries with the highest wealth per adult, according to an annual report compiled by Credit Suisse.

The annual Global Wealth Report, which was authored by Professor Anthony Shorrocks, Professor James Davies, and Dr. Rodrigo Lluberas, analyzes the household wealth of 5.2 billion people across the globe. 

Regarding the wealth per adult across countries, the report found: “There are huge variations in average wealth across countries and regions. 

“The World Wealth Map shows that nations with wealth per adult above USD 100,000 are located in North America, Western Europe, and among the richer parts of East Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East, with a sprinkling of outposts in the Caribbean. 

“Switzerland (USD 598,410) heads the list again at the end of 2019. It is possible that Liechtenstein and Monaco have higher average wealth, but there is insufficient evidence to make that judgment. 

“Among the countries that we can rank, Hong Kong SAR (USD 518,810) is in second place, followed by the United States (USD 463,550), Australia (USD 419,460), and New Zealand (USD 341,060). 

“The Netherlands, Singapore, Canada, Denmark, and Ireland occupy the remaining slots in the top ten, in descending order, with wealth per adult ranging from USD 286,000 to 337,000.”

The publication of the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report coincides with the publication of The Sunday Times Irish Rich List 2020.

Inclusion on the Irish Rich List 2020 required a fortune of €65 million, up €8 million from 2019.

This year's Irish Rich List found that there were 16 billionaires, down one from last year, and a record 75 women on the list, up from last year's record of 66.

The Sunday Times said that the combined wealth of the richest 300 in Ireland is a record €93.7 billion, up 7.3% on last year. 

"Dublin accounts for more than 37% of the Rich List wealth on the island of Ireland in the hands of 93 families and individuals, including five of the country’s 16 billionaires," The Sunday Times said.

"Seventy-one of Ireland’s richest 300 are based in Northern Ireland controlling just under 13% of this list’s wealth, behind Munster, with 52 of the 300 holding 24.2%, and the areas of Leinster outside Dublin where 37 hold 13.6%."

Ireland's ten richest people / families are:

  1. Hilary, Alannah and Galen Jr Weston and family (€11.818bn)
  2. Patrick and John Collison (€7.75bn)
  3. Larry, Kitty, Laurence and Mark Goodman (€3.213bn)
  4. John Dorrance (€2.6bn)
  5. Eugene, Gene and Paul Murtagh (€2.219bn)
  6. Sir David McMurtry (€1.832bn)
  7. Deirdre and Mark Lyons (€1.8bn)
  8. Lady Ballyedmond and family (€1.528bn)
  9. The Dunne and Heffernan families (€1.499bn)
  10. Dermot Desmond (€1.401bn)

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