• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers

1

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
PoliticsInflation

The pandemic may have been one of the ‘best times in recorded history’ for the world’s burgeoning billionaire class

Christiaan Hetzner
By
Christiaan Hetzner
Christiaan Hetzner
Senior Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Christiaan Hetzner
By
Christiaan Hetzner
Christiaan Hetzner
Senior Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 23, 2022, 1:16 PM ET

As the world’s most powerful people embark on their pilgrimage to Davos for the World Economic Forum, the gap between rich and poor has widened into a dangerous chasm.

Thanks to central banks unleashing a tsunami of easy money that inflated equity market prices, billionaires were minted at a rate of one every 30 hours during the past two years, according to estimates by Oxfam.

The advocacy group devoted to fighting global poverty and hunger argued the combined wealth of the world’s billionaires now stands at $12.7 trillion, equivalent to 13.9% of global GDP and a three-fold increase over 2000 when it stood at just 4.4%.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic their mountain of wealth has reached unprecedented and dizzying heights,” concluded Oxfam in a study published on Monday. “The pandemic—full of sorrow and disruption for most of humanity—has been one of the best times in recorded history for the billionaire class.” 

According to the non-governmental organization, the fortunes of the world’s richest people increased as much in the span of 24 months as they did in 23 years. Now the bottom half of the global population would have to toil for an estimated 112 years to earn what the top 1% now rake in over just 12 months.

Meanwhile inflation has sparked a cost-of-living crisis for the poor and working class across the world. Oxfam estimates 263 million people could be pushed into “extreme levels of poverty” this year.

“Across the world, each and every dimension of inequality has skyrocketed,” the organization wrote, citing metrics like wealth, income, racial, health and gender injustice. “This is inequality that kills, contributing to the death of at least one person every four seconds.”

Windfall taxes on wealth, profits

Oxfam singled out the the Cargill family as profiting from what they estimate is a 30% increase in global food prices over the past year. The family now has 12 members who are billionaires, according to Oxfam, a number that has risen by half since the pandemic.

“The Cargill family, along with just three other companies, controls 70% of the global agricultural market,” Oxfam wrote.

Cargill did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.

Oxfam advocates for a wealth tax and one-time duties imposed on corporate profits that could then be used to protect ordinary people across the world and reduce inequality and suffering.

A windfall tax on the pandemic-related wealth gains of the 10 richest men alone would be enough to make vaccines for the entire world, according to Oxfam.

The organization added that the net worth of Elon Musk rose eightfold, making him the world’s richest man. It estimated he could lose 99% of his wealth and still be in the top 0.0001% of the world’s richest people. And Amazon’s Jeff Bezos saw his wealth soar by $45 billion since 2020.

Due to the ever-widening wealth gap, some economists have likened society to a hundred years ago during the roaring 20s. Traumatic events like hyperinflation that hit Weimar Germany and destroyed the social fabric ultimately ended in the rise of fascism.

“Governments must act now to rein in extreme wealth,” Oxfam warned. “The pandemic has shown us that sticking to the rigged policies of yesterday is a recipe only for more catastrophe.”

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.

About the Author
Christiaan Hetzner
By Christiaan HetznerSenior Reporter
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Christiaan Hetzner is a former writer for Fortune, where he covered Europe’s changing business landscape.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

new mexico
North AmericaNew Mexico
New Mexico is raking in oil profits from Iran War, gaining $59 million for every $1 added to the price of a barrel
By Morgan Lee and The Associated PressMay 15, 2026
13 hours ago
boeing
LawBoeing 737 Max
Jury awards $49.5 million to family of 24-year-old who died in Boeing 737 Max crash in 2019
By Rio Yamat and The Associated PressMay 15, 2026
13 hours ago
ratcliffe
PoliticsCuba
CIA director traveled to Cuba and met with Raul Castro’s grandson, officials confirm
By Andrea Rodriguez, Eric Tucker and The Associated PressMay 15, 2026
13 hours ago
leo
EuropeReligion
Pope Leo warns of ‘spiral of annihilation’ as AI warfare leads to symphony of destruction
By Nicole Winfield, Paolo Santalucia and The Associated PressMay 15, 2026
14 hours ago
osborn
PoliticsElections
Democrats are looking for conservative versions of Bernie Sanders in states like Nebraska and Alaska
By Steve Peoples, Mike Catalini and The Associated PressMay 15, 2026
14 hours ago
krishna
Commentaryregulation
The U.S. has 1,200 AI bills and no good test for any of them
By Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Gary Marcus and Stephen HenriquesMay 15, 2026
19 hours ago

Most Popular

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
3 days ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
3 days ago
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
Travel & Leisure
Nearly 50,000 Lake Tahoe residents have to find a new power source after their energy source looks to redirect lines to data centers
By Catherina GioinoMay 12, 2026
3 days ago
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
Energy
The airplane fuel shortage is a myth propagated by airlines who want to cancel unprofitable flights, says private jet CEO
By Jim EdwardsMay 14, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 14, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 14, 2026
2 days ago
Top economist says $39 trillion national debt leaves government worse prepared for recession than ever
Economy
Top economist says $39 trillion national debt leaves government worse prepared for recession than ever
By Eva RoytburgMay 14, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.