Despite tariff fears and recession warnings, the world’s top entrepreneurs are more optimistic than ever — and quietly preparing for the biggest wealth transfer in a generation. Their response? A collective shrug and a focused plan to cash in big over the next decade.
According to the newly released 2026 UBS Global Entrepreneur Report, the world’s most successful business founders are fiercely optimistic, planning massive workforce expansions, and, most notably, preparing for highly lucrative business exits.
The report, which surveyed 215 elite founders boasting a combined $34.3 billion in annual revenue, paints a picture of a business class pretty much unfazed by macroeconomic headwinds. A striking 68% of entrepreneurs say they are optimistic about their business prospects over the next 12 months. This confidence is highest in Switzerland (83%) and Europe (74%), driven primarily by surging customer demand and rapid technological advancements.
Benjamin Cavalli, Head of Strategic Clients & Global Connectivity at UBS, noted that founders are refusing to retreat. “Entrepreneurs are not preparing for retrenchment. They’re preparing for reinvention,” he observed, adding that they are entering the year with “remarkable resilience”.
