If you ask, you will find that the most precious commodity to a billionaire, is not in fact money, it is time. The average age of male billionaires is 63.2, while the average age of female billionaires is 62.2, so what they do with their time, and who they spend it with, is very important to them.
As we all do, billionaires tend to develop friendships with people who share common interests, abilities and have a similar lifestyle to them. But the glaring difference is that they usually have large social circles, including other ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals and often even other billionaires.
According to the latest 2016 Billionaire Census report by Wealth-X, on average, a billionaire has nine other UHNW individuals in his network, including three billionaires. As for their passions, interests or hobbies, the global elite ranked Travel as #2 behind Philanthropy, with 31% of total billionaires either undertaking or being interested in pursuing travel related activities.
These individuals have choices that are unrestricted by financial concerns or limits and tend to have patterns when it comes to their social activity and as such, Travel is often regarded as a social function for them. Most move in tight, trusted social circles frequenting the same events and functions on a global scale to meet up with acquaintances. Many in this elite club regard attendance to certain prestigious yearly events as vitally important.
So where can you expect to find this group of international jet set elite in any given month?
Here is a list of the most favoured worldwide destinations on the traditional social events calendar of many billionaires and the ultra-wealthy:
January
- Davos World Economic Forum – Davos, Switzerland
- Art Stage – Singapore
- Sundance Film Festival – Utah, United States
- St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow – St. Moritz, Switzerland
- Cresta Run – St. Moritz, Switzerland
February
- White Turf International Horse Races – St. Moritz, Switzerland
- Superbowl – United States
- Vienna Opera Ball – Vienna, Austria
- Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show – Miami, United States
March
- Dubai World Cup – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- International Ballet Festival – Moscow, Russia
- Art Basil Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China
April
- US Masters Golf Tournament – Georgia, United States
- Singapore Yacht Show – Singapore
May
- Cannes Film Festival – Cannes, France
- Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Car Show – Cernobbio, Italy
- Glyndebourne Opera Festival – East Sussex, United Kingdom
- Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix – Monaco
- Kentucky Derby Horse Race – Kentucky, United States
June
- Henley Royal Rowing Regatta – Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom
- European Soccer Championships – Europe
- US Open Golf Tournament – Pennsylvania, United States
- Royal Ascot Gold Cup Horse Race – Berkshire, United Kingdom
July
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Polo Gold Cup – Midhurst, United Kingdom
- Wimbledon Tennis Championship Finals – London, United Kingdom
- Bayreuther Wagner Music Festival – Bayreuth, Germany
August
- US PGA Golf Championship – North Carolina, United States
- Venice International Film Festival – Venice, Italy
- Beijing International Music Festival – Beijing, China
September
- Monaco Yacht Show – Monaco
- Salon Prive Supercar Show – Woodstock, United Kingdom
- Ryder Cup Golf Championship – Minnesota, United States
- Singapore F1 Grand Prix – Singapore
- New York Fashion Week – New York, United States
- London Fashion Week – London, United Kingdom
- Milan Fashion Week – Milan, Italy
- Paris Fashion Week – Paris, France
October
- Frieze Masters Art Show – London, United Kingdom
November
- Melbourne Cup Horse Race – Melbourne, Australia
- Bal des Débutantes Fashion Show – Paris, France
December
- La Scala Opera House Opening Night – Milan, Italy
- Art Basil Show Miami – Miami, United States
- St. Bart’s New Years Eve Celebrations – St. Barths, Caribbean
