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how many billionaires in nz

New Zealand currently has about 18 billionaires , according to the latest 2025 National Business Review (NBR) Rich List coverage.

Quick Scoop: How many billionaires in NZ?

  • As of the 2025 NBR Rich List, New Zealand has 18 billionaires , up from 16 the previous year.
  • These billionaires are part of a wider group of 119 richest individuals and families , whose combined wealth is estimated at about $102.1 billion , more than 40% of NZ’s GDP.
  • The top spot is held by Nick and Mat Mowbray (Zuru Toys), with an estimated net worth of around $20 billion.

In a country of roughly 5.3 million people, having 18 billionaires means a very small group holds a very large slice of the total wealth pie.

Recent context and “latest news”

  • The 2025 list showed around a dozen newcomers to the rich list overall (not all billionaires), together worth about $4.3 billion.
  • Commentaries on the list highlight that the total rich-list wealth has risen despite “tough times” for many ordinary households, which has fed ongoing public and forum debates about inequality and cost of living.

Some well-known NZ and NZ-linked billionaires often mentioned in articles and discussions include:

  • Graeme Hart – packaging and private equity.
  • Nick & Mat Mowbray – Zuru Toys.
  • Peter Jackson – filmmaker, net worth estimated around the low‑billion range.

Mini “forum-style” take

“How many billionaires in NZ?”
On forums and comment sections, you often see two main reactions:

  • Some users are impressed that such a small country has nearly twenty billionaires and see this as a sign of entrepreneurial success.
  • Others point out that while 18 people (and families) sit on over $100 billion collectively, many New Zealanders are struggling with housing, food prices, and wages, so the Rich List has become a symbol in debates about inequality.

This mix of admiration and criticism is part of why “how many billionaires in NZ ” keeps popping up as a trending topic and a talking point in news and forum discussions.

Quick TL;DR

  • How many billionaires in NZ? About 18 , based on the 2025 NBR Rich List.
  • Total rich‑list wealth: Roughly $102.1 billion , more than 40% of New Zealand’s GDP.
  • Why it’s trending: It feeds ongoing debates about wealth concentration, inequality, and the state of the NZ economy.

Information gathered from public data and reporting available on the internet and portrayed here.