Moscow sits high on the list as one of the world’s most affluent cities, ranking sixth among the top ten cities hosting billionaires. Forbes is the source many readers rely on for these numbers, and their figures place Moscow at the heart of global wealth tracking. The city is said to be home to 61 billionaires, eight more than in 2022. The combined net worth of Moscow’s billionaires has grown to about 307 billion dollars, a jump of 92 billion from the previous year. By this measure, Moscow stands as the third-largest megacity in terms of billionaire wealth, trailing only New York and Paris in overall wealth held by the rich. New York holds roughly 617 billion dollars, while Paris sits at about 409 billion dollars. These rankings reflect the city’s growing role as a magnet for high net worth individuals and the shifting geography of wealth in the 21st century, where geopolitical events and market conditions can influence where fortunes are concentrated.
In terms of sheer headcount of billionaires, Moscow is positioned behind New York with 101 billionaires, but beats out global peers like Hong Kong with 70, Beijing with 68, Shanghai with 65, and London with 63. The pattern indicates how Moscow acts as a major hub for ultra-wealth creation, drawing entrepreneurs and investors from diverse sectors. For Forbes, these numbers are a snapshot of long-standing business ecosystems, where access to capital, industrial bases, and favorable-market dynamics help boost fortunes despite external pressures. The publication underscores that even amid disruptions such as international sanctions and ongoing geopolitical tensions, a sizable portion of Moscow’s billionaire cohort expanded their wealth over the year. Only two individuals saw their fortunes decline, while two held steady, and the rest experienced increases, illustrating a resilient local economy and steady wealth accumulation.
Among the city’s wealthiest residents, Vladimir Potanin, the head of Interros, tops the individual list with an estimated fortune of about 23.7 billion dollars according to Forbes. Potanin is repeatedly cited as a leading figure in Russia’s business landscape, emblematic of the broad array of industries that contribute to Moscow’s billionaire economy, from mining and metals to diversified investment holdings. The Forbes portrait of Potanin and his peers helps readers understand how Russia’s corporate tycoons navigate global markets, manage cross-border investments, and influence corporate strategy across sectors. Observers often note the juxtaposition of local entrepreneurship with international capital flows when assessing the capital behind Moscow’s billionaire status.
Meanwhile, the broader market environment has seen investors in Moscow pursue diversified opportunities, including properties in global gateway cities. There is commentary from financial analysts about how these investors allocate wealth across real estate markets worldwide, reflecting a strategy to balance liquidity with growth potential. The narrative around Moscow’s billionaire population remains a focal point in discussions about capital mobility, regional risk, and the role of state policy in shaping private fortunes. The overall image is one of a dynamic, evolving market where wealth is both centralized and actively reinvested, contributing to the city’s standing on the international wealth map.