Wealth Glossary .
Clear definitions of 20 key terms used in billionaire wealth tracking, finance, and investing. Updated for 2026.
Wealth & Net Worth
Net Worth
The total value of all assets owned minus all liabilities owed.
Liquid Net Worth
The portion of net worth that can be quickly converted to cash without significant loss of value.
Billionaire
An individual with a net worth of at least one billion US dollars.
Centi-Billionaire
An individual with a net worth of at least $100 billion — one hundred times a billionaire.
UHNWI (Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individual)
A person with investable assets of at least $30 million.
Family Office
A private wealth management firm that serves a single ultra-wealthy family's financial and investment needs.
Source of Wealth
The origin from which a person's wealth was primarily generated.
Philanthropy
The voluntary donation of money, time, or resources to causes that benefit society.
Finance
Market Capitalization
The total market value of a company's outstanding shares, calculated as share price multiplied by total shares.
IPO (Initial Public Offering)
The first sale of a company's stock to the public, transitioning it from private to publicly traded.
Stock Options
The right to purchase company shares at a predetermined price, typically used as employee compensation.
Estate Tax
A tax levied on the transfer of an estate's assets after the owner's death.
Investing
Hedge Fund
A pooled investment fund that uses advanced strategies including leverage, short-selling, and derivatives to generate returns.
Venture Capital
Financing provided to early-stage, high-growth startups in exchange for equity ownership.
Carried Interest
The share of profits that fund managers receive from investment returns, typically 20% of gains.
Private Equity
Investment in companies that are not publicly traded on stock exchanges, typically through buyouts or growth capital.
Dividend
A cash payment made by a company to its shareholders from profits or retained earnings.
Short Selling
Borrowing and selling shares you don't own, betting the price will fall so you can buy them back cheaper.
Leverage
Using borrowed capital to amplify potential returns on an investment.