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1. Elon Musk – $269.8 billion
Elon Musk, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, is an entrepreneur and business magnate known for his innovative ventures in technology and space exploration. Musk’s net worth of $269.8 billion makes him the wealthiest person in the world as of 2024. Musk’s wealth primarily stems from his involvement in several high-profile companies:- Tesla: As co-founder and CEO, Musk owns about 21% of Tesla, the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer.
- SpaceX: Founded in 2002, this private spaceflight company is valued at approximately $150 billion, with Musk owning about 42%.
- X (formerly Twitter): Musk acquired the social media platform in 2022 and currently owns around 75% of the company.
2. Larry Ellison – $206.2 billion
Larry Ellison, born on August 17, 1944, in New York City, is the co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation. According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, with a net worth of $206.2 billion, Ellison has recently surged to become the second richest person in the world. Ellison’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Oracle, a company he co-founded in 1977. Oracle has become a dominant force in the database management industry and has expanded into cloud computing and enterprise software. The recent surge in Oracle’s stock price, driven by advancements in AI and cloud technologies, has significantly boosted Ellison’s net worth. Despite dropping out of both the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, Ellison found his calling in computer programming. He moved to California and co-founded Software Development Laboratories, which eventually became Oracle. Under his leadership, Oracle grew to become one of the largest technology companies in the world. Ellison stepped down as Oracle’s CEO in 2014 but remains active in the company as executive chairman and CTO. He has also made significant investments in other companies, including a substantial stake in Tesla.3. Jeff Bezos – $205.8 billion
Jeff Bezos, born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is best known as the founder of Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce and cloud computing company. With a net worth of $205.8 billion, Bezos is the third richest person in the world as of 2024. Bezos’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Amazon, which he founded in 1994 as an online bookstore. He currently owns about 9% of Amazon stock. Under his leadership, Amazon expanded into various sectors, including cloud computing (Amazon Web Services), artificial intelligence, and streaming services. After graduating from Princeton University with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, Bezos worked on Wall Street before starting Amazon. He served as Amazon’s CEO until 2021 when he transitioned to the role of executive chairman. In addition to Amazon, Bezos owns The Washington Post, which he purchased in 2013 for $250 million, and Blue Origin, a space exploration company he founded in 2000. He has also made significant investments in various other ventures and philanthropic efforts. Bezos’s net worth has seen significant fluctuations over the years, largely tied to Amazon’s stock performance. Despite stepping down as CEO, he remains one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.4. Bernard Arnault & family – $199.5 billion
Bernard Arnault is a French business magnate and the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods company. Born on March 5, 1949, in Roubaix, France, Arnault has built an empire of over 70 luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hennessy. Arnault’s net worth of $199.5 billion stems primarily from his stake in LVMH. He owns about 48% of LVMH, which has seen significant growth in recent years. Under his leadership, LVMH has become a global powerhouse in the luxury goods market, with a market capitalization of over $400 billion as of early 2024. Throughout his career, Arnault has demonstrated a keen eye for acquisitions and brand development. He began his career working for his father’s construction company before venturing into luxury goods in the 1980s. His strategic acquisitions and management style have transformed LVMH into the dominant force it is today in the luxury sector. Arnault is known for his competitive nature and his desire to be at the top of the wealth rankings. He has been quoted as saying, “As long as I’m not the richest man in the world, I won’t really be happy”. However, his wealth has seen significant fluctuations, with a reported $54 billion drop in late 2024 due to a 20% decline in LVMH’s stock price.5. Mark Zuckerberg – $196.3 billion
Mark Zuckerberg is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), one of the world’s largest social media and technology companies. Born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm room in 2004. Zuckerberg’s net worth of $196.3 billion is primarily derived from his stake in Meta. He owns about 5.6% of the company, which includes both Class A and Class B shares. As of May 2024, his Meta shares were valued at approximately $161 billion. Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, Meta has expanded beyond its initial social networking platform to include other popular services such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR. In 2021, the company rebranded as Meta, signaling its focus on developing the metaverse, a 3D virtual reality space. Zuckerberg’s wealth has seen significant growth in recent years. In 2024 alone, his net worth increased by $55.6 billion, making him the billionaire with the largest wealth gain that year. This surge was largely due to Meta’s strong stock performance, with shares up 49% in 2024. Despite facing various controversies and challenges, including issues related to user privacy and content moderation, Zuckerberg has maintained his position as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. He has also pledged to give away 99% of his wealth during his lifetime through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which he founded with his wife, Priscilla Chan.6. Warren Buffett – $143.9 billion
Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is one of the most successful investors in history. Born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns a diverse portfolio of businesses. Buffett’s net worth of $143.9 billion is largely derived from his ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway. He owns about 37.6% of the company’s Class A shares and less than 0.001% of its Class B shares. Berkshire Hathaway has delivered impressive returns over the years, with a compounded annual gain in per-share market value of 19.8% since 1965. Known for his value investing strategy and long-term approach, Buffett began his investment career at a young age. He bought his first stock at 11 and filed his first tax return at 13. After studying under Benjamin Graham at Columbia University, Buffett went on to create his own investment partnership before taking control of Berkshire Hathaway in the 1960s. Throughout his career, Buffett has made numerous successful investments in companies across various sectors. Berkshire Hathaway owns businesses such as GEICO, Dairy Queen, and BNSF Railway, and has significant stakes in companies like Coca-Cola and American Express. Buffett is also known for his frugal lifestyle and philanthropic efforts. He still lives in the same house he bought in Omaha in 1958 and has pledged to give away the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. In 2010, he and Bill Gates launched The Giving Pledge, encouraging billionaires to donate at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.7. Bill Gates – $138.6 billion
Bill Gates, born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, is the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation and one of the most influential figures in the tech industry. With a net worth of $138.6 billion, Gates remains one of the wealthiest individuals globally. Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, revolutionizing personal computing with the Windows operating system. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the world’s largest PC software company. Gates served as CEO until 2000 and remained chairman until 2014. While much of Gates’ wealth still comes from his Microsoft shares, he has diversified his portfolio through Cascade Investment, his private investment vehicle. He has investments in various sectors, including energy, hospitality, and transportation. In recent years, Gates has focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-chairs. The foundation works on global issues such as healthcare, education, and climate change. Gates has pledged to give away most of his wealth during his lifetime.8. Larry Page – $136.4 billion
Larry Page, born on March 26, 1973, in East Lansing, Michigan, is best known as the co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company, Alphabet Inc. His net worth of $136.4 billion primarily stems from his stake in Alphabet. Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. Under their leadership, Google grew from a search engine into a tech giant offering a wide range of products and services. Page served as Google’s CEO from 2011 to 2015 and as CEO of Alphabet from 2015 to 2019. Page’s wealth has grown significantly due to Alphabet’s strong performance in the stock market. He owns about 6% of Alphabet’s shares and maintains majority voting control along with co-founder Brin. In addition to his work with Google and Alphabet, Page has invested in flying car companies and is known for his interest in breakthrough technologies. He has largely stepped away from day-to-day operations at Alphabet but remains a board member and controlling shareholder.9. Amancio Ortega – $133.4 billion
Amancio Ortega, born on March 28, 1936, in Busdongo de Arbás, Spain, is the founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group, best known for its Zara clothing and accessories chain. His net worth of $133.4 billion makes him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world and the richest person in Spain. Ortega founded Inditex in 1963, starting with a small workshop making women’s bathrobes. He opened the first Zara store in 1975, and the company has since grown into the world’s largest fashion retailer. Inditex operates over 7,000 stores worldwide under several brands, including Zara, Pull&Bear, and Massimo Dutti. Ortega’s wealth primarily comes from his 59% stake in Inditex. He stepped down as chairman in 2011 but still owns a majority of the company’s shares. Known for his frugal lifestyle and aversion to publicity, Ortega rarely gives interviews or appears in public. In addition to his fashion empire, Ortega has invested heavily in real estate through his company Pontegadea Inversiones. His property portfolio includes significant holdings in major cities worldwide, including Madrid, London, and New York.10. Sergey Brin – $130.6 billion
Sergey Brin, born on August 21, 1973, in Moscow, Russia, is the co-founder of Google and former president of its parent company, Alphabet Inc. His net worth of $130.6 billion is largely derived from his stake in Alphabet. Brin immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six. He met Larry Page at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science, and together they founded Google in 1998. Brin served as the president of technology at Google and later as the president of Alphabet until 2019. Like Page, Brin’s wealth has grown substantially due to Alphabet’s strong market performance. He owns about 6% of Alphabet’s shares and, along with Page, maintains majority voting control of the company. Brin has been involved in various projects within Google, including the development of Google Glass. He has also shown interest in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. In recent years, Brin has focused more on his philanthropic efforts and personal projects, including research on Parkinson’s disease.
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