The ultra-rich are piling into Rolexes, rubies and Klimts as inflation hedges—but the real return may be about more than money

BNY Wealth has surveyed investment decision-makers at 290 single-family offices, offering a view into the private firms that manage substantial family fortunes.

Survey Targets Major Private Fortunes

The firms included in the research manage families with at least $250 million in investable assets. Nearly half of the respondents oversee more than $1 billion, placing the survey’s focus firmly on the largest end of the private wealth-management market.

Single-family offices are private organizations established to manage the financial affairs of one wealthy family. Their investment decision-makers can influence how significant pools of capital are allocated across different assets and strategies.

Why the Findings Matter

The survey is relevant because it focuses on a group whose investment decisions involve exceptionally large portfolios. It also highlights the scale of wealth being managed outside conventional public-facing financial institutions.

The material identifies interest in assets including Rolex watches, rubies and works by Gustav Klimt in the context of inflation hedges. However, the supplied information does not provide detailed results, allocation figures or performance data from the survey.

A Limited but Relevant Snapshot

With 290 participating offices and nearly half overseeing more than $1 billion, the research provides a defined snapshot of decision-makers in the family-office sector. It does not, based on the available information, establish the returns or broader market impact of the assets mentioned.

For now, the survey’s clearest contribution is its focus on the scale and structure of private wealth management among families with at least $250 million in investable assets.