Money

The 11 countries with the most billionaires

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New York, New York
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According to research firm Wealth-X, which releases an annual Billionaire Census, there are 2,473 billionaires in the world.

Some countries are populated with hundreds of them. Take the United States, which is home to 585 that's just under 25 percent of the world's billionaires.

After all, "billionaires like to be in areas where other billionaires are likely to be located as well," Wealth-X tells CNBC.

Here are the 11 countries with the largest populations of billionaires — and the total wealth held by the billionaire residents — courtesy of Wealth-X.

11. France

Number of billionaires: 52

Total wealth held by billionaires: $206 billion

Paris
Gary Ullah | Flickr Commons

9. Brazil

Number of billionaires: 59

Total wealth held by billionaires: $186 billion

Rio de Janeiro

9. Saudi Arabia

Number of billionaires: 59

Total wealth held by billionaires: $181 billion

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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8. Hong Kong

Number of billionaires: 79

Total wealth held by billionaires: $291 billion

Hong Kong
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7. India

Number of billionaires: 90

Total wealth held by billionaires: $206 billion

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India
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6. Switzerland

Number of billionaires: 95

Total wealth held by billionaires: $235 billion

Old Town Zurich view of city with St. Peter's Church clock tower and the Limmat River.
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5. United Kingdom

Number of billionaires: 106

Total wealth held by billionaires: $295 billion

London
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4. Russia

Number of billionaires: 118

Total wealth held by billionaires: $348 billion

Moscow
Mariusz Kluzniak | Getty Images

3. Germany

Number of billionaires: 130

Total wealth held by billionaires: $423 billion

Munich
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2. China

Number of billionaires: 260

Total wealth held by billionaires: $675 billion

Beijing
Yongyuan Dai | Getty Images

1. United States

Number of billionaires: 585

Total wealth held by billionaires: $2.466 trillion

Washington D.C.
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