Rich People and Poor People in 2025

Jul 2, 2026, 15:00
AustraliaFinance
A2

Rich People and Poor People in 2025

2025年的富人與窮人

Introduction

A new report says more people are millionaires in 2025. However, most normal people have less money than before.

一份新報告指出 2025 年有更多人成為百萬富翁。然而，大多數普通人的財富比以前減少了。

Main Body

Rich people got more money because the stock market went up. The USA had many new millionaires. Billionaires grew their money very fast.

由於股市上漲，富人賺到了更多錢。美國出現了許多新百萬富翁。億萬富翁的財富增長非常迅速。

In the USA, UK, and Germany, the middle-class people lost money. In Australia, houses became very expensive. This made some people rich, but others stayed poor.

在美國、英國和德國，中產階級失去了財富。在澳洲，房屋變得非常昂貴。這使得有些人變得富有，但有些人則依然貧困。

Some countries in Europe and the Middle East also have more millionaires. Some experts say the government should change taxes. They want to tax money that parents leave to children.

歐洲和中東的一些國家也有更多百萬富翁。一些專家表示政府應該改變稅制，他們希望對父母留給子女的遺產徵稅。

Conclusion

Rich people are getting richer from stocks and houses. Most people are getting poorer.

富人透過股票和房產變得越來越富有，而大多數人則越來越貧困。

Vocabulary Learning

💡 The "Comparing People" Pattern

In this text, we see a pattern for talking about groups of people and their money. To reach A2, you need to know how to describe Who is doing What.

1. Identifying Groups

  • Rich people →\rightarrow Have a lot of money.
  • Poor people →\rightarrow Have very little money.
  • Middle-class people →\rightarrow Are in the center (not rich, not poor).

2. Action Words (Money Verbs) Look at how the money moves in the story:

  • Got (Past of get): "Rich people got more money." →\rightarrow They received it.
  • Lost (Past of lose): "Middle-class people lost money." →\rightarrow It went away.
  • Grew (Past of grow): "Billionaires grew their money." →\rightarrow It became bigger.

3. Simple Contrast Notice the use of But and However to show two different sides:

  • Rich people get richer BUT\textbf{BUT} others stay poor.
  • More millionaires HOWEVER\textbf{HOWEVER} normal people have less.

Quick Tip: Use these pairs to describe your own world: Group A→Action→Result\text{Group A} \rightarrow \text{Action} \rightarrow \text{Result}.

Vocabulary Learning

report (n.)
A document that gives information about a subject
Example:I read a report about the weather today.
millionaire (n.)
A person who has a million dollars or more
Example:He became a millionaire by starting a business.
stock market (n.)
A place where people buy and sell parts of companies
Example:Many people invest their money in the stock market.
billionaire (n.)
A person who has a billion dollars or more
Example:The billionaire bought a private island.
middle-class (adj.)
People who have a medium amount of money
Example:My parents are middle-class workers.
expensive (adj.)
Something that costs a lot of money
Example:This new phone is very expensive.
expert (n.)
A person who knows a lot about something
Example:She is an expert in computer science.
government (n.)
The group of people who lead a country
Example:The government made a new law about schools.
tax (n.)
Money that you must pay to the government
Example:We pay tax on the things we buy.
B2

Analysis of Global Wealth Distribution and the Rise of Millionaires in 2025

2025年全球財富分佈分析與百萬富翁崛起

Introduction

A recent report by UBS shows a significant increase in the number of millionaires worldwide during 2025. This growth was mainly caused by rising stock market values, even though the typical person's wealth decreased in many countries.

UBS 最近的一份報告顯示，2025 年全球百萬富翁的人數顯著增加。這種增長主因於股市價值上升，儘管許多國家的普通人財富有所下降。

Main Body

Global personal wealth grew by 10.8% in 2025, which is the largest increase since 2017. However, this growth was not equal. The wealthiest people saw the biggest gains; for example, billionaires' total wealth rose by nearly 25%. The United States was a major driver of this trend, accounting for about 441,000 of the one million new millionaires globally. UBS economist James Mazeau emphasized that rich people benefit more from financial markets, noting that the U.S. stock market rose by 18%.

全球個人財富在 2025 年增長了 10.8%，是 2017 年以來最大規模的增長。然而，這種增長並不平均。最富有的人獲益最大；例如，億萬富翁的總財富上升了近 25%。美國是這一趨勢的主要推動力，在全球新增的一百萬名百萬富翁中，約有 44.1 萬名來自美國。UBS 經濟學家 James Mazeau 強調，富人從金融市場中獲益更多，並指出美國股市上漲了 18%。

On the other hand, the data shows that median wealth—the amount held by the middle person—has dropped. In the U.S., the UK, and Germany, median wealth per adult fell by about 20% between 2020 and 2025. A similar pattern appeared in Australia, where average wealth rose by 19% but median wealth fell by nearly 7%. This is largely due to the property market, where Australian homes are worth trillions of dollars. Despite this gap, Australia's wealth distribution is still more equal than in countries like the UAE or Russia.

另一方面，數據顯示中位數財富——即處於中間位置的人所持有的金額——有所下降。在美國、英國和德國，成年人每人的中位數財富在 2020 年至 2025 年間下降了約 20%。澳洲也出現類似模式，平均財富上升了 19%，但中位數財富下降了近 7%。這很大程度上歸因於房地產市場，澳洲房屋價值高達數兆美元。儘管存在此差距，澳洲的財富分佈仍比阿拉伯聯合大公國或俄羅斯等國家更為平等。

Finally, global politics and economics are affecting these trends. A weaker U.S. dollar helped increase the number of millionaires in Europe and the Middle East. Regarding the conflict in Iran, Mazeau asserted that the impact on wealthy individuals depends on how they invest their money. Furthermore, economist Saul Eslake suggested that current tax laws do not stop wealth inequality. He proposed using inheritance taxes to manage the $5.5 trillion expected to be passed down to the next generation.

最後，全球政治與經濟正影響著這些趨勢。美元走弱有助於增加歐洲和中東的百萬富翁人數。關於伊朗的衝突，Mazeau 主張，對富裕人士的影響取決於他們的投資方式。此外，經濟學家 Saul Eslake 建議，目前的稅法無法阻止財富不平等。他提議利用遺產稅來管理預計將傳給下一代的 5.5 兆美元。

Conclusion

Global wealth continues to concentrate among the richest people. While stock and property markets create record numbers of millionaires, the average citizen is seeing their net assets decline.

全球財富持續集中在最富有的人手中。雖然股市和房地產市場創造了紀錄數的百萬富翁，但一般公民的淨資產卻在下降。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡️ The 'B2 Leap': Moving from Simple to Complex Contrast

At an A2 level, you likely use 'but' or 'and' to connect ideas. To reach B2, you must master Contrast Markers. These words allow you to show a sophisticated relationship between two opposite facts without sounding like a child.

🔍 The Pattern in the Text

Look at how the article manages the gap between the rich and the poor. It doesn't just say "Rich people got money but poor people didn't." Instead, it uses these high-level tools:

  1. "Even though..." →\rightarrow Used to introduce a surprising fact.

    • Text: "...even though the typical person's wealth decreased..."
    • B2 Logic: Put the 'surprising' part of the sentence after this phrase.

  2. "On the other hand..." →\rightarrow Used to switch the entire focus to a different perspective.

    • Text: "On the other hand, the data shows that median wealth... has dropped."
    • B2 Logic: Use this at the start of a new paragraph or sentence to signal a total change in direction.

  3. "Despite..." →\rightarrow Used to show that something happened regardless of a problem.

    • Text: "Despite this gap, Australia's wealth distribution is still more equal..."
    • B2 Logic: After "Despite," you cannot use a full sentence (Subject + Verb). You must use a noun or a noun phrase (e.g., Despite the rain, Despite the gap).

🛠️ From A2 →\rightarrow B2 Transformation

A2 Style (Basic)B2 Style (Professional)
The stock market rose, but the middle class is poorer.Even though the stock market rose, the middle class is poorer.
There is a big wealth gap. Australia is still more equal.Despite the big wealth gap, Australia is still more equal.
Billionaires are richer. Poor people have less money.Billionaires saw huge gains. On the other hand, median wealth fell.

💡 Pro Tip: The 'Despite' Trap

Avoid saying: Despite it was raining. Instead, say: Despite the rain (Noun) or Despite the fact that it was raining (Phrase).

Vocabulary Learning

significant (adj.)
Large or important enough to be noticed or have an effect.
Example:There has been a significant increase in the number of people working from home.
emphasized (v.)
To give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing.
Example:The teacher emphasized the importance of arriving on time for the exam.
median (adj.)
The middle value in a series of numbers, separating the higher half from the lower half.
Example:The median household income provides a more accurate picture of the average citizen's wealth than the mean.
distribution (n.)
The way in which something is shared out or spread over an area.
Example:The government is trying to improve the distribution of resources across the rural provinces.
asserted (v.)
To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
Example:The lawyer asserted that his client was innocent of all charges.
inheritance (n.)
Money, property, or titles received from someone who has died.
Example:She used her inheritance to start a small business in the city.
concentrate (v.)
To gather or cluster together in one particular place or group.
Example:Wealth tends to concentrate in the hands of a few powerful individuals.
assets (n.)
Useful or valuable things, people, or qualities; typically property or money.
Example:The company's total assets include its office buildings and intellectual property.
C2

Analysis of Global Wealth Distribution and the Proliferation of High-Net-Worth Individuals in 2025

2025年全球財富分佈與高淨值人士增長分析

Introduction

A recent report by UBS indicates a significant increase in the global millionaire population during 2025, driven primarily by equity market appreciation, despite a concurrent decline in median wealth across numerous jurisdictions.

瑞銀（UBS）近期的一份報告指出，儘管許多司法管轄區的財富中位數有所下降，但受股票市場升值驅動，2025年全球百萬富翁人數顯著增加。

Main Body

The expansion of global personal wealth by 10.8% in 2025 represents the most substantial increase since 2017. This growth was characterized by a disproportionate accumulation of assets among the wealthiest cohorts; specifically, the collective net worth of billionaires increased by nearly 25%, while the assets of 'everyday millionaires' (those possessing $1 million to $5 million) rose by 170% since 2000, compared to a 343% increase for wealthier peers. The United States served as a primary catalyst for this trend, contributing approximately 441,000 of the nearly one million new millionaires globally. UBS economist James Mazeau attributed this divergence to the higher exposure of affluent individuals to financial markets, noting an 18% rise in the U.S. stock market.

2025年全球個人財富增長了10.8%，代表了自2017年以來最顯著的增幅。此次增長的特點在於資產不成比例地積聚在最富有的群體中；具體而言，億萬富翁的集體淨值增加了近25%，而「普通百萬富翁」（資產在100萬至500萬美元之間者）自2000年起增長了170%，而較富有的同儕則增長了343%。美國是這一趨勢的主要催化劑，在全球近一百萬名新百萬富翁中貢獻了約441,000名。瑞銀經濟學家 James Mazeau 將此分歧歸因於富裕人士對金融市場有較高的曝險，並指出美國股市上升了18%。

Conversely, the data reveals a systemic contraction in median wealth. In the United States, the UK, and Germany, median wealth per adult declined by approximately 20% between 2020 and 2025. In Australia, a similar divergence is evident: while average personal net wealth increased by 19% over the same period, median wealth contracted by nearly 7%. This disparity is largely attributed to the residential property market, where Australian households hold $12.3 trillion in assets. Despite this, Australia maintains a relatively low Gini coefficient of 0.53, suggesting a more equitable distribution of wealth compared to nations such as the UAE or Russia.

相反地，數據顯示中位數財富出現系統性萎縮。在美國、英國和德國，每位成年人的中位數財富在2020年至2025年間下降了約20%。在澳洲，同樣可以看到這種分歧：同一時期內，平均個人淨財富增加了19%，但中位數財富則萎縮了近7%。這種差距很大程度上歸因於住宅房地產市場，澳洲家庭持有12.3兆美元的資產。儘管如此，澳洲仍保持相對較低的基尼係數 0.53，表明與阿聯酋或俄羅斯等國家相比，財富分佈較為公平。

Geopolitical and macroeconomic variables further complicate the wealth landscape. The depreciation of the U.S. dollar facilitated higher percentage gains in millionaire populations within Europe and the Middle East, such as Turkey (6.4%) and the UAE (3.5%). Regarding the conflict in Iran, Mazeau posited that the impact on Middle Eastern high-net-worth individuals remains contingent upon their specific asset allocation and currency hedging strategies. Furthermore, economist Saul Eslake suggested that the current tax frameworks in certain jurisdictions fail to mitigate market-driven wealth inequality, proposing the implementation of inheritance taxes to address the projected intergenerational transfer of $5.5 trillion.

地緣政治和宏觀經濟變數進一步使財富格局複雜化。美元貶值促使歐洲和中東地區（如土耳其 6.4% 和阿聯酋 3.5%）的百萬富翁人口百分比增長較高。關於伊朗衝突，Mazeau 認為對中東高淨值人士的影響仍取決於其具體的資產配置和貨幣避險策略。此外，經濟學家 Saul Eslake 指出，某些司法管轄區目前的稅務框架未能緩解市場驅動的財富不平等，建議實施遺產稅以應對預計 5.5 兆美元的跨代財富轉移。

Conclusion

Global wealth continues to concentrate among the highest percentiles, with stock and property markets driving record numbers of millionaires while the typical citizen experiences a decline in net assets.

全球財富繼續集中在最高百分比的人群中，股市和房產市場驅動百萬富翁人數達到紀錄高點，而一般公民的淨資產則在下降。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Nuance: Lexical Precision in Economic Discourse

To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond meaning and master precision. In the provided text, the most critical linguistic bridge is the movement from general descriptors to Domain-Specific Qualifiers.

⚡ The 'Divergence' Logic

Observe the author's use of "concurrent decline" and "systemic contraction." A B2 student might say "at the same time, wealth went down." A C2 speaker employs "concurrent" to denote a temporal synchronicity and "contraction" to describe a structural shrinking of a financial entity.

🔍 Semantic Precision: 'Disproportionate' vs. 'Inequitable'

Note the subtle distinction between these two terms in the text:

  • Disproportionate accumulation: This is a quantitative observation. It describes a ratio that is out of balance (e.g., the 25% increase for billionaires vs. the stagnation of others).
  • Equitable distribution: This is a qualitative/normative judgment. While disproportionate describes the how, equitable describes the fairness or social standing of that distribution.

🛠️ C2 Syntactic Pivot: The Contingent Clause

Look at the phrasing: "...remains contingent upon their specific asset allocation."

The C2 Mechanism: Replacing the common "depends on" with "remains contingent upon" elevates the register from conversational to academic. It implies a conditional relationship that is formal and precise.

C2 Upgrade Path: B2: "The result depends on the taxes." ∗C1:∗"Theoutcomeisdependentonthetaxframework."*C1:* "The outcome is dependent on the tax framework." C2: "The outcome remains contingent upon the prevailing tax frameworks."

🧩 Collocational Mastery

To sound like a native expert, memorize these 'high-utility' pairs found in the text:

  • Mitigate →\rightarrow Inequality (Not just 'reduce', but to make less severe)
  • Facilitate →\rightarrow Gains (To make a process easier/possible)
  • Primary catalyst →\rightarrow Trend (The spark that starts a larger movement)
  • Intergenerational transfer →\rightarrow Wealth (The technical term for inheritance)

Vocabulary Learning

proliferation (n.)
A rapid increase in the number or amount of something.
Example:The proliferation of high-net-worth individuals in 2025 reflects a growing concentration of global capital.
appreciation (n.)
An increase in the value of an asset over time.
Example:Equity market appreciation played a pivotal role in boosting the net worth of investors.
concurrent (adj.)
Happening or existing at the same time.
Example:The report noted a rise in billionaire wealth alongside a concurrent decline in median household assets.
cohorts (n.)
Groups of people who share a common characteristic or experience within a defined period.
Example:The wealthiest cohorts of the population saw the most significant gains in asset accumulation.
catalyst (n.)
A person or thing that precipitates an event or change.
Example:The robust performance of the U.S. economy served as a primary catalyst for the global increase in millionaires.
divergence (n.)
The process or instance of diverging; a difference in development or direction.
Example:There is a stark divergence between the growth of average wealth and the contraction of median wealth.
contraction (n.)
The process of becoming smaller or the state of being decreased.
Example:The data reveals a systemic contraction in median wealth across several developed nations.
posited (v.)
Put forward as a basis of argument; suggested as a fact or theory.
Example:The economist posited that currency hedging strategies would protect assets during geopolitical instability.
contingent (adj.)
Subject to chance; depending on one or more circumstances.
Example:The financial outcome for investors remains contingent upon their specific asset allocation.
mitigate (v.)
To make less severe, serious, or painful.
Example:Critics argue that current tax frameworks fail to mitigate the effects of market-driven inequality.
Practice All words in a crossword→