Billionaire influence exposed as wealth reaches $18.3tn worldwide

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The brazen influence of billionaires on global politics is becoming impossible to ignore, says Oxfam. Their latest report shows that 2025 saw a record number of billionaires created worldwide, with collective wealth reaching $18.3tn (£13.7tn). This staggering growth comes amid stagnating global efforts to combat poverty, hunger, and inequality. Since 2020, billionaire fortunes increased by 81%, or $8.2tn, an amount Oxfam claims could end extreme poverty 26 times over. The charity warns that governments are increasingly bowing to wealthy interests instead of serving ordinary citizens.

Oxfam’s annual inequality survey paints a stark picture of the rising political influence of the rich. Max Lawson, co-author of the report, said governments are choosing to protect wealth rather than citizens’ freedoms. “The rule of the rich is taking precedence over the needs of the people,” he explained. “Instead of redistributing resources, authorities suppress protests against rising living costs, austerity, and corruption.” This, the report argues, deepens societal divisions while emboldening billionaires to pursue political agendas openly.

Protests by young people demanding economic justice erupted across Africa, Asia, and Latin America last year, often met with violent suppression. In Kenya, social activist Wanjira Wanjiru described extreme inequality in Nairobi’s Mathare slum, where access to clean water and sanitation is scarce while a nearby golf course thrives under constant irrigation. She noted that East African governments often grant tax breaks and incentives to large corporations, reflecting the growing billionaire influence, while cutting budgets for essential services, leaving ordinary citizens to struggle.

Yet Wanjiru believes youth-led movements could spark meaningful change. “People can only endure oppression for so long before rebelling,” she said. “We are approaching a tipping point where citizens demand that systems serve their interests, not the rich. The unchecked billionaire influence over politics is pushing people to act.” In Nepal, widespread protests in September 2025 over corruption and economic hardship led to government resignations and targeted attacks on billionaire MP Binod Chaudhary’s businesses, illustrating public anger against excessive wealth and political privilege, and highlighting how billionaire influence shapes governance globally.

Political analysts like Pradip Gyawali emphasized the protests’ significance, viewing them as a global call for youth participation in governance. Ordinary citizens, Gyawali explained, were frustrated that politicians routinely catered to wealthy donors while neglecting the needs of the majority. “This is not just a national movement,” he said. “It is part of a worldwide push for young people to claim political influence and accountability.”

Oxfam’s report highlights that billionaires’ engagement in politics is increasingly overt. Many now control media networks, hold office, or contribute heavily to campaigns. Estimates suggest billionaires are 4,000 times more likely than average citizens to influence political decisions, and nine of the world’s ten largest social media platforms are owned by billionaire interests. Research cited by Oxfam shows policies supported by wealthy individuals are 45% likely to pass, compared with only 18% for those opposed by them. This disproportionate power further entrenches inequality and marginalizes ordinary voters.

The survey also draws attention to wealth accumulation amid global crises. While billions are concentrated in a tiny elite, billions of people worldwide remain unable to meet basic needs. According to Lawson, this imbalance reflects systemic failures in governance: governments have consistently prioritized the protection of billionaires’ fortunes over social welfare programs and public investment. “The marriage between money and politics has never been more blatant,” he said. “The wealthy are shaping societies to suit themselves while ordinary citizens bear the cost.”

Across continents, activists argue that rising inequality has sparked new forms of civic engagement. In Kenya, Wanjiru stressed the resilience and creativity of youth movements seeking justice and reform. Meanwhile, in Nepal, public demonstrations against corruption demonstrated how collective action can challenge political elites and hold them accountable. Lawson believes these developments are signs that resistance to billionaire dominance is growing worldwide. “People are waking up to the fact that wealth cannot equate to governance,” he added.

Oxfam warns that without decisive action, the gap between billionaires and ordinary citizens will continue widening. The report calls for progressive taxation, increased transparency in political donations, and measures to reduce the economic and political power of the ultra-rich. The charity stresses that such reforms are not only necessary to reduce inequality but also to restore faith in democratic institutions. Inaction, it argues, risks further civil unrest and societal instability, as citizens increasingly demand a voice in the systems that govern their lives.

The report’s revelations coincide with heightened public scrutiny of billionaires’ influence. Global audiences are becoming more aware of how wealth concentration undermines democracy and fosters corruption. Lawson and his co-author Harry Bignell emphasize that transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement are essential tools to counteract this trend. Without them, the world risks entrenching systems that favour a minority at the expense of millions of ordinary people.

In conclusion, Oxfam’s findings underline the urgent need for governments worldwide to rebalance political power. As billionaires openly assert their influence over society and policy, ordinary citizens increasingly face systemic barriers to basic rights and services. Youth-led movements, from Kenya to Nepal, suggest that public pushback can challenge entrenched inequalities. Yet the charity warns that sustained pressure and policy reforms are vital to ensure political systems serve everyone, not only the wealthy elite. The report leaves little doubt: the age of brazen billionaire influence is here, and its consequences demand immediate action from global leaders and citizens alike.

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