Some 2.1 million high-net-worth people lived in the United States in 2001, according to a recent banking industry study. According to the 2002 World Wealth Report from Merrill Lynch and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, both located in New York, high-net-worth individuals have financial assets—not counting real estate—of at least $1 million. An even wealthier group—ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs)—have financial assets of at least $30 million. Some 57,000 individuals worldwide—an increase of 2.6% over year 2000 numbers—earned that title in 2001. These UHNWIs have combined assets of $8.37 trillion, which represents a 3% increase in wealth over the previous year's figure. By contrast, the median net worth of U.S. households is just over $40,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A World of Wealth Region