The great wealth transfer has officially begun, according to the latest edition of the UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report.

Last year, the ultra-rich amassed more assets through inheritance than entrepreneurship for the first time since Swiss bank UBS started tracking their respective net worths almost a decade ago. And over the next 20 years, more than 1,000 billionaires are expected to pass a staggering $5.2 trillion (£4tn) on to lucky family members and beneficiaries.

Outrageously wealthy heirs and heiresses are nothing new, of course. As the number of mega-moneyed beneficiaries soars, read on to discover the stories behind 30 of the world's all-time biggest inheritances and find out how the inheritors fared with their fortunes.

All dollar amounts in US dollars with figures adjusted for inflation.