America’s ultra rich aren’t afraid to roll the dice when it comes to exposing themselves to risk, according to research that has found 41 per cent of those with a net worth of $25 million or more, not including primary residence, describe themselves as "aggressive" or "most aggressive". In contrast, wealthy individuals in the relatively lower net-worth bracket of $5 million and up are far more cautious, with only 24 per cent identifying themselves as "aggressive" or "most aggressive". Research firm Spectrum Group surveyed financial decision-makers in 101 households in the US in August this year with a net worth of $25 million or more for a new report called “The $25 Million Plus Investor”. "Even in the face of intense financial market turmoil, investors with the most to lose are willing to roll the dice with risky investments,” said George Walper Jr, Spectrem Group president. In the $25 million net worth category, those who identify themselves as "aggressive" (33 per cent) are willing to place a significant portion of their investments at risk, according to the research firm; and those who call themselves "most aggressive" (8 per cent) are willing to expose all of their investments to risk. In the $5 million net worth category, "aggressive" investors account for 20 per cent, while the "most aggressive" investors account for 4 per cent. The researcher found just 6 per cent of the $25 million-plus set consider themselves "conservative" investors, compared with 9 per cent of those with a net worth of $5 million or more. The individuals surveyed with a net worth of $25 million or more hold 65 per cent of their total assets in individual stocks, mutual funds, managed accounts and alternatives. The alternatives include hedge funds, private placements, private equity, venture capital, commodities and REITs.