Forbes billionaires list shows economies reward wealth - not work

Published: 6th March 2018

Commenting on the 2018 Forbes billionaires list, which revealed that Amazon boss, Jeff Bezos, fortune has risen to $112bn from an estimated $39.2bn in one year - the biggest rise ever - Max Lawson, Oxfam's Head of Policy on Inequality said:

"Billionaire fortunes have risen six times faster than the wages of ordinary workers since 2010. Our failing economies are enriching a wealth minority while millions of ordinary workers are struggling to survive on poverty pay.

"Governments need to build economies that work for everyone and not just a fortunate few.  They should ensure all workers are paid a living wage; that corporations and the super-rich pay more tax; that women workers have the same rights as men; and that power and wealth is shared across society."

 

Notes to editors

More details on the 2018 Forbes Billionaires List is here.

The Oxfam's Inequality Report 'Reward Work, Not Wealth' revealed that billionaire wealth had increased by 13 percent a year since 2010 while the wages of ordinary workers rose by just 2 percent a year.

Contact information

Anna Ratcliff: anna.ratcliff@oxfam.org or +447796993288