According to The Wealth Report 2026 by Knight Frank, Türkiye has recorded a rapid increase in the number of ultra-wealthy individuals. Over the past five years, the number of people with a net worth exceeding $30 million has nearly doubled — from 2,174 to 4,208.

Türkiye ranked third globally in terms of growth rate of wealthy individuals, trailing only Poland (109%) and Qatar (107%). For comparison, the global growth rate of ultra-wealthy individuals over the same period was 29%. Experts forecast that by 2031, the number of multimillionaires in Türkiye will rise to 4,772, while the number of billionaires will increase by about one-third — from 35 to 46.

Despite the growth in private wealth, significant income inequality remains in the country:

— Wealth concentration: the richest 1% of Türkiye’s population owns 38.1% of the country’s total wealth, while the poorest half (50%) holds only 2.8%.

— Extreme incomes: an average billionaire earns the equivalent of an ordinary worker’s annual salary in just 19 minutes.

— Gender gap: women’s labor income amounts to only 41% of men’s earnings.

Forbes 2026 ranking leaders

The list of the country’s richest individuals continues to be topped by Murat Ülker (Yıldız Holding) with a fortune of $5.2 billion. The top three also include Cemil Kazancı (Aksa Enerji) with $4.9 billion and Erman Ilıcak (Rönesans Holding) with $3.7 billion.

ORIENT