The artificial intelligence (AI) sector has been a driving force behind extraordinary wealth generation in 2025, producing numerous new billionaires and setting records for unprecedented wealth creation. Major investment rounds in startups like Anthropic, Safe Superintelligence, OpenAI, and Anysphere have generated substantial paper wealth and record-breaking valuations. Data from CB Insights reveals there are currently 498 AI ‘unicorns’ with a combined value exceeding $2.7 trillion. This rapid growth is fueled by significant funding and notable startups emerging after 2023. Publicly traded companies like Nvidia, Meta, and Microsoft have also seen their stock prices surge, along with infrastructure providers catering to the data center demands of AI applications. The growing demand for skilled AI engineers has resulted in substantial salary increases, further contributing to this wealth expansion. Leading AI researcher Andrew McAfee stated that