The top 10 ASX shares held by millionaires

Do you want to see which stocks the wealthy investors have in their portfolios?

A man in his 30s holds his laptop and operates it with his other hand as he has a look of pleasant surprise on his face as though he is learning something new or finding hidden value in something on the screen.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Have you ever wondered which ASX shares rich people have bought?

Maybe you'd like to emulate their portfolio? Surely if they're wealthy then they must know what they're doing?

Well, the cat need not be killed because this week investment platform Selfwealth Ltd (ASX: SWF) crunched the data to reveal the ASX-listed stocks that are most held by millionaires:

  1. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG)
  2. Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)
  3. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)
  4. Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)
  5. CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)
  6. ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)
  7. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)
  8. Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)
  9. Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)
  10. A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The average size of the millionaire portfolio was $2.6 million. The largest one was a whopping $97 million.

How the millionaire portfolio differs from the peasants

Selfwealth chief executive Cath Whitaker observed a common theme in the millionaire portfolios.

"Our millionaire portfolio investors hold strong companies in strong sectors," she said.

"When it comes to ETFs they go for the biggest, and when it comes to non-traditional single stocks they've picked those that have seen very high returns."

Indeed, most of the list is made of established industry leaders. The one outlier in the top 10 list seems to be Neuren Pharmaceuticals.

That stock has exploded 268% over the past 12 months.

In an endorsement for active stock picking, the major difference between the millionaire portfolios compared to the general population was that there was only one exchange-traded fund stock featuring in the wealthy top 10.

According to Selfwealth, the top 10 ASX shares among the wider investor community are "dominated" by ETFs.

Remarkably, the millionaires are patriotic. The only non-ASX stock in the top 20 is personal computing giant Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), which came in at 15th.

The wider investor population loves ASX lithium shares, with five featuring among the most popular 20.

But for the millionaires, only Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) features, and that's coming in at a lowly 17th.

Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has positions in CSL and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple and CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk, Apple, and Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Investing Strategies

A female coal miner wearing a white hardhat and orange high-vis vest holds a lump of coal and smiles as the Whitehaven Coal share price rises today
Dividend Investing

Invest $10,000 in New Hope shares and get $1,006 in passive income

Many ASX investors buy New Hope shares for their high yielding, fully franked dividends.

Read more »

A man in a suit looks serious while discussing business dealings with a couple as they sit around a computer at a desk in a bank home lending scenario.
Dividend Investing

Forget term deposits and buy these ASX 200 dividend shares

Analysts have good things to say about these dividend options.

Read more »

An Australian farmer wearing a beaten-up akubra hat and work shirt leans on a fence with livestock in the background and a blue sky above.
REITs

Should you buy this ASX REIT for its 6% dividend yield?

This expert is telling investors to take advantage of a 6% yield...

Read more »

a man in a business suit points his finger amid a digitised map of the globe suspended in the air in front of him, complete with graphs, digital code and glyphs to indicate digital assets.
Investing Strategies

Future focus: How to diversify your portfolio with ASX AI ETFs

Looking for a simple and effective way to capitalise on the growth of AI technologies across global markets?

Read more »

A happy construction worker or miner holds a fistfull of Australian money, indicating a dividends windfall
Dividend Investing

Here's the BHP dividend forecast through to 2028

Will the Big Australian continue to reward shareholders with big dividends?

Read more »

Scared people on a rollercoaster holding on for dear life, indicating a plummeting share price
Cheap Shares

5 oversold ASX shares to buy in April 2024

Looking to snap up an ASX bargain this month?

Read more »

A white and black robot in the form of a human being stands in front of a green graphic holding a laptop and discussing robotics and automation ASX shares
Investing Strategies

How to invest in the future with ASX AI shares

Discover the potential of AI in transforming industries and enhancing investment portfolios with ASX-listed AI shares.

Read more »

A man holding a cup of coffee puts his thumb up and smiles while at laptop.
Dividend Investing

Analysts say these ASX 200 dividend stocks are best buys in April

What are analysts saying about these high quality companies?

Read more »