Comics have long reflected the world around us, shaping how we see society. Growing up in the 1950s, I was drawn to Walt Disney’s characters — Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge, Gyro Gearloose, and Professor Ludwig Von Drake — each embodying a different social archetype.

Donald Duck represented the American middle class, balancing his modest house, car, and job. Uncle Scrooge symbolized the old-money elite — wealthy bankers sitting atop seemingly inexhaustible riches. Gyro Gearloose, the eccentric inventor, reflected the relentless pursuit of innovation, though his inventions often lacked key functionalities. Professor Von Drake, a self-proclaimed genius and scientist, represented the archetypal absent-minded professor and the intellectual elite of the Space Age.

Over the decades, the world has undergone dramatic shifts. The economic landscape once dominated by old-money elites (Uncle Scrooge) has given way to a new breed of innovators and disruptors (Gyro and Von Drake). This transformation raises key questions:

1. How did the once-timid American middle class (Donald) evolve into a dominant force in the global economy?

2. How did the wealthy elite (Uncle Scrooge) lose ground to the innovators and disruptors (Gyros and Von Drakes) — figures like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk?

A look at the 2021 Billionaire Census provides some answers. Among its key findings:

* The “new billionaires” of 2020 are younger, less wealthy than past generations, and more likely to be entrepreneurs, particularly in technology and healthcare.

* Nearly half of the fortunes of the world’s 15 richest billionaires come from the tech sector, benefiting from the rapid digitization of the economy. Names like Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, and Bill Gates dominate the list.

* Billionaire populations are growing fastest in North America and Asia, with increases of 17.5% and 16.5%, respectively.

This shift in global wealth reflects a broader transformation: wealth is no longer concentrated solely in traditional banking and industry (Uncle Scrooge) but is increasingly driven by technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship (Gyro Gearloose and Von Drake).

In a world where ideas now hold more value than gold, it’s no longer enough to hoard wealth like Uncle Scrooge. The new titans of industry thrive on creativity, disruption, and technological vision — proving that, in today’s economy, the real treasure isn’t money, but innovation.