New insights from Altrata’s just-released Residential Real Estate 2025 report reveal that the global ultra-wealthy elite are becoming more mobile, strategic, and city-savvy – and Monaco remains a standout with the highest density of ultra-high-net-worth homeowners anywhere in the world.
In an increasingly borderless world, where mobility and strategic planning are central to wealth management, the global luxury real estate map is undergoing a major reshuffle. Altrata’s latest edition of Residential Real Estate 2025: Spotlight on the World’s Leading Markets for the Wealthy, sponsored by REALM, explores the evolving footprint of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) – defined as those with a net worth exceeding $30 million – across both established and emerging property markets.
Monaco, though compact, continues to wield extraordinary influence. The Principality has the highest concentration of UHNW residents and second-home owners in the world, with one ultra-wealthy individual for every 22 residents. This figure points to the enduring allure of Monaco’s fiscal and lifestyle advantages but positions it as a strategic hub amid growing global uncertainty and wealth preservation planning.
New York, meanwhile, retains its crown as the world’s top city for ultra-wealthy residential ownership, with more than 33,200 UHNW individuals calling the city home or owning secondary property there. Los Angeles and Hong Kong follow, each approaching a footprint of 20,000. Yet, it is Miami that emerges as the top global destination for second-home ownership among UHNW individuals, now surpassing New York in that category. Over 13,200 of the ultra-wealthy hold second residences in the Floridian city, drawn by its tax advantages and expanding cultural and financial appeal.
Across the Atlantic, London remains the top non-US location for second-home ownership, followed closely by Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore and Geneva. According to the report, this trend highlights a growing sophistication in how the wealthy diversify their real estate portfolios. “Affluent families are no longer driven solely by lifestyle or prestige; they focus on security, legal reliability, and long-term strategy,” said John Eric, Founding Realm Member and Co-Managing Partner of The Luxury Collective.
Beyond headline cities, emerging hotspots such as Lisbon, Abu Dhabi and long-favoured Aspen are attracting attention for their blend of exclusivity and investment resilience. Altrata’s data further signals a rising number of female UHNW homeowners, particularly in Asia, pointing to a broader demographic transformation within global wealth circles.
In a world marked by volatility and globalised movement, the ultra-wealthy are distributing their assets – and their lives – more widely than ever. Monaco’s unique position, combining stability, discretion and location, continues to make it a keystone in the global property portfolios of the world’s wealthiest.
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Photo credit: Richard McCreery, Monaco Life