Prestige real estate is undergoing a profound transformation that goes far beyond simple price fluctuations. Once dominated by stereotyped figures and purely speculative acquisitions, this high-end market now attracts a wide diversity of profiles. New tech millionaires, international buyers or families in search of a permanent primary residence are actively participating in the redefinition of residential luxury. Beyond the materialisation of social success, the exceptional property is now establishing itself as a temporal and spatial anchor, a strong concept that specialists refer to as the “Power of Place”.
The unprecedented rise of global wealth
The demographics of the world’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals are experiencing historic growth. Individuals with at least one million dollars in financial assets, excluding their primary residence, numbered more than 25 million at the end of 2025. This segment grew by nearly 8% in one year, establishing a record cumulative wealth of 98,300 billion dollars. At the top of this pyramid, the ultra-wealthy holding more than 30 million dollars in assets represent only about 250,000 people worldwide. Although they constitute barely 1% of the wealthy population, they concentrate nearly 35% of global wealth and show the fastest increase.
In this geography of wealth, the United States retains a dominant position, home to a third of the planet’s 3,500 billionaires. In Europe, France is performing particularly well, with the creation of 32,000 new millionaires over the same period, representing a rate of approximately one new millionaire every fifteen minutes, thus ranking fourth in Europe for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
The new mapping of residential attractiveness
This global wealth is characterised by high international mobility, with nearly 165,000 millionaire relocations anticipated for the year 2026. The attractiveness of countries is now based on precise criteria such as fiscal stability, physical security and the ability to preserve asset value. In this game, the cards are being reshuffled quickly. The United Kingdom is thus experiencing an exodus of its wealthy individuals following the abolition of non-domiciled status, replaced by a regime subjecting global wealth to inheritance tax.
On the scale of global metropolises, Madrid stands out in 2026 as the most attractive destination for wealthy investors, ahead of Milan, Dubai and Miami. Paris now occupies sixth place in this international ranking, suffering the effects of political uncertainties and fiscal tensions. The share of American buyers in the French capital nevertheless stands at 44%, ahead of European and Gulf buyers, while the domestic ultra-wealthy clientele tends to erode in favour of opportunistic international investors.
Local economic impact and new balances
The debate surrounding the use of prestige properties is intensifying. When wealthy buyers reside on-site and consume locally, they generate a beneficial multiplier effect for the local economy. In France, the impact of high-end transactions remains particularly virtuous: a 1% increase in prestige sales by international buyers generates an increase of approximately 0.25% in local employment, directly feeding the construction, renovation and services sectors.
However, this real estate pressure requires rigorous adjustments. In certain highly attractive areas, rising prices create housing difficulties for local workers. To remedy this, local initiatives are being deployed, such as in Chamonix where a local urban plan now bans any new secondary residence on a large majority of buildable land in order to preserve the social balance of the municipality.
The return to roots and utility value
The French clientele of senior executives and young retirees is making a marked return to its national market, particularly on the Atlantic coast where domestic buyers represent up to 90% of transactions in Arcachon. The acquisition of a prestige property is no longer envisaged solely as a secondary residence occupied for a few weeks a year. Thanks to the development of high-speed rail links and the widespread adoption of remote working, holiday destinations are transforming into true permanent living spaces.
In conclusion, exceptional real estate is breaking free from purely financial logic to celebrate utility value. Buyers now prioritise quality of life, a secure environment and infrastructure adapted to an annual daily life, favouring anchorage and family transmission over pure financial speculation.
