# Women to benefit most from $6.6 trillion great wealth transfer 1,235 female billionaire spouses set to inherit fortunes by 2035 - **Source:** [Fortune](https://fortune.com) - **Published:** 2026-09-03 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e374c718-308c-46e5-9533-e8f3890a113d ## $6.6 trillion wealth set to change hands According to Altrata's report, one-third of the world's $15.1 trillion billionaire wealth will transfer through inheritance in the coming decade. By 2035, nearly 5,000 spouses and adult children will inherit $6.6 trillion. This transfer is accelerating due to increasing intergenerational wealth transfers and family gifting. The current record of 3,795 billionaires is also expected to be broken as more individuals join the ultra-wealthy class through inheritance. ## Women stand to gain the most While only 13% of current billionaires are women, more than 1,235 female spouses (90% of billionaire partners) will inherit significant wealth in the next decade, as men over 60 dominate the ultra-rich population. Altrata predicts this will narrow the gender wealth gap and bring more diversity to decision-making. The report notes female billionaires are more involved in nonprofit sectors than their male counterparts. ## Female wealth to spur new sectors The rising number of female billionaires could increase entrepreneurial activity and venture capital investments among wealthy women, according to the report. It may also expand female-focused wealth management services and influence large-scale philanthropy. Female billionaires are noted to be more involved in nonprofit sectors than men, potentially creating transformative impacts in these areas. ## Gen X heirs take center stage Altrata data shows Gen X heirs, averaging 48 years old, will receive the largest share among billionaire children. About 23% of expected adult child heirs already work with their ultra-rich parents in primary family businesses. The report emphasizes that Gen X significantly outnumbers Millennial and Gen Z heirs in the inheritance line, making them the primary beneficiaries of baby boomer wealth. ## Inheritance goes beyond cash Adult heirs will inherit not just cash but real estate, shares in public companies, private businesses, and investment portfolios. Some billionaire children are expected to manage multi-generational family businesses spanning manufacturing, consumer goods, finance, and retail. These heirs are predicted to direct their wealth toward digital technologies and impact investments, marking a shift from traditional asset allocation. ## New generation, different priorities Younger and middle-aged inheritors are described as more digitally savvy and activism-oriented than older generations. Altrata suggests new technologies, climate change responses, and impact investing will likely be major interest areas for these wealthy heirs. These modern priorities may conflict with how their parents' generation preferred to spend fortunes, potentially creating intergenerational tension in wealth management strategies. ## Global uncertainties shape transfer Altrata predicts the coming years will be shaped by 'further erosion of the global rules-based order,' climate pressures, technological transformation, and AI-era economic shifts. The report states that a more unpredictable multipolar world with shifting power centers will complicate succession planning and wealth preservation strategies for the global billionaire class, adding layers of complexity to intergenerational transfers. ## Opportunity in chaos Amid the chaotic environment of the great wealth transfer, Altrata argues next-gen billionaires will find new opportunities in business, investing, and philanthropy. As trillions change hands, heirs won't just inherit family fortunes but will have the chance to redefine how wealth is invested, spent, and put to work. This transformation could have long-term effects on global economic structures and social paradigms, reshaping wealth's role in society. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/09/03/wives-gen-xers-become-biggest-inheritors-in-6-6-trillion-transfer-billionaire-wealth-2035/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._