We are regularly asked ‘who is your customer?’. Our high levels of governance and varying licenses means that we are obligated to know and evidence the answer to this question. We also are often asked ‘what value do Martyn Fiddler add?’ and we know that we add value to every transaction process and beyond when it comes to owning, buying or selling a business aircraft. In knowing all of this we have seen a distinct customer shift in the last decade, this article series explores our findings.
The number of self made women reaching billionaire or ultra high net worth status is rising quickly, both across the United States (US) and globally.
From 2015 to 2024, the total number of female billionaires surged from 190 to 344, marking an 81% increase, far outstripping the also impressive increase in billionaires by males, who over the same period saw a 49% rise in male billionaires.
According to recent data, in 2023 there were approximately 43,457 female ultra high net worth individuals (with assets above USD 30 million).
Although women still make up a minority around 13.3 percent of the billionaire population and 11 percent of ultra wealthy individuals their share has grown impressively over the past decade and forecasts are that they will continue to grow at these exponential rates.
Among female ultra high net worth individuals, approximately 45 percent are self made, a lower proportion than the 75 percent reported among men, but still evidencing rapid entrepreneurial progress.
Clearly the rise of self made women billionaires is a trend to watch.
Many studies have shown that female billionaires exhibit distinct consumption habits compared to their male counterparts. For instance, they are 1.5 times more likely to invest in high end real estate and 1.3 times more likely to own valuable artwork. They also prioritise philanthropy at a higher rate, with a stronger focus on education and healthcare causes.
Additionally, female billionaires tend to spend more on luxury fashion, jewellery, and wellness experiences, while male billionaires allocate more toward golf, yachts, and sports investments, their interests in aviation and business aviation are well documented, women less so since women are often more discrete in their ownership and use of business aircraft assets.
Another key difference is in tech consumption: women are more likely to back sustainable and socially responsible startups, whereas men dominate traditional sectors like finance and energy. Indeed, Taylor Swift was one of the first celebrities to innovatively carbon offset her business jet usage by a multiple of times over.
As more women build wealth independently, particularly strongly in finance, technology, media, and retail sectors, they increasingly view private aircraft as essential business tools, not simply status symbols.
In our next article we take a look at the history of business aviation. If you are looking to own, buy or sell a business aircraft contact Martin@martynfiddler.com.
