As a financial analyst, I’ve always been fascinated by the ebb and flow of wealth among the world’s elite. There’s something captivating about tracking the fortunes of those who’ve climbed to the pinnacle of financial success. The year 2024 has brought some interesting shifts in the billionaire landscape, with tech moguls continuing to dominate the top spots.
Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, we’ll dive into the lives and fortunes of the ten wealthiest individuals on the planet. From innovative entrepreneurs to savvy investors, these titans of industry have amassed fortunes that most of us can only dream of.
- Elon Musk – $266.3 billion
Elon Musk, born in 1971 in South Africa, is the wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of $266.3 billion. Musk is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Tesla, the electric vehicle and clean energy company, and SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company.
Musk’s wealth primarily stems from his ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX. He also owns Twitter (now X), which he acquired in 2022, and co-founded Neuralink and The Boring Company. Musk’s net worth has seen significant fluctuations due to the volatile nature of Tesla’s stock price, which accounts for a large portion of his wealth.
- Jeff Bezos – $211.3 billion
Jeff Bezos, born in 1964 in New Mexico, is the second richest person globally with a net worth of $211.3 billion. Bezos is the founder and executive chairman of Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce and cloud computing company.
Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, which has since expanded into various other sectors. He stepped down as CEO in 2021 but remains executive chairman. Bezos also owns The Washington Post and Blue Origin, an aerospace company developing rockets for commercial use.
- Larry Ellison – $202.8 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Larry Ellison, born in 1944 in New York City, is the third wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of $202.8 billion. Ellison is the co-founder, executive chairman, and chief technology officer (CTO) of Oracle Corporation, one of the largest software companies globally.
Ellison co-founded Oracle in 1977, which grew from a start-up to become the largest supplier of database software and the second-largest supplier of business applications. He stepped down as CEO in 2014 but continues to play a significant role in the company as CTO and chairman of the board. Ellison’s wealth has seen substantial growth in recent years, partly due to Oracle’s strong performance in the cloud computing and AI markets.
- Mark Zuckerberg – $194.9 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, born in 1984, is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook). His net worth has seen a significant surge in 2024, reaching $194.9 billion. Zuckerberg’s wealth primarily stems from his stake in Meta, which he founded in 2004 while at Harvard University.
Zuckerberg has been the biggest gainer among billionaires in 2024, adding an impressive $72.2 billion to his fortune. Meta’s strong performance, particularly in AI initiatives, has driven this growth. The company’s stock price has increased by 60% since the beginning of 2024 and 85% year-over-year.
- Bernard Arnault & family – $175.2 billion
Bernard Arnault, born in 1949, is the chairman and CEO of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), the world’s largest luxury goods company. Arnault’s net worth stands at $175.2 billion, a significant decrease from earlier in the year when he was briefly the world’s richest person.
Arnault’s wealth has seen a substantial decline in 2024, with a $54 billion drop due to a 20% fall in LVMH’s stock price. This decrease is attributed to challenges in the luxury goods market. Despite this setback, Arnault remains one of the wealthiest individuals globally, with his fortune primarily tied to his 48% ownership stake in LVMH.
- Warren Buffett – $143.4 billion
Warren Buffett, born in 1930, is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and one of the most successful investors in history. As of September 2024, Buffett’s net worth is estimated at $143.4 billion, making him the 6th richest person in the world.
Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffett’s wealth comes primarily from his ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns a diverse portfolio of businesses and investments. Buffett started young, becoming a millionaire by age 30, and reached billionaire status at 55. Despite his immense wealth, Buffett is known for his frugal lifestyle and has pledged to give away the majority of his fortune to philanthropic causes.
- Bill Gates – $138.9 billion
Bill Gates, born in 1955, is the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most well-known figures in the tech industry. His net worth stands at $138.9 billion, making him the 7th richest person globally. Gates stepped down from his day-to-day role at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Despite giving away billions to charitable causes, Gates’ wealth continues to grow, largely due to his diversified investment portfolio and his remaining stake in Microsoft. He has pledged to give away 99.96% of his wealth through his foundation, which focuses on global health, education, and climate change initiatives.
- Larry Page – $135.1 billion
Larry Page, born in 1973, is the co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company, Alphabet. His net worth is estimated at $135.1 billion, placing him 8th on the global wealth rankings. Page’s wealth primarily stems from his stake in Alphabet, which has seen significant growth due to Google’s dominance in the search engine market and its successful ventures into AI and cloud computing.
Page stepped down as CEO of Alphabet in 2019 but remains a board member and controlling shareholder. He is known for his “10X” mentality, pushing for innovations that are ten times better than existing solutions.
- Amancio Ortega – $132.2 billion
Amancio Ortega, born in 1936, is the founder of Inditex, the parent company of fashion retailer Zara. His net worth is $132.2 billion, making him the 9th richest person in the world. Ortega’s rise to wealth is a classic rags-to-riches story, having started as a clothing shop assistant before founding Zara in 1975.
Ortega owns 59% of Inditex, which operates over 7,500 stores worldwide. Despite stepping down from active management in 2011, he remains the largest shareholder. Ortega is known for his frugal lifestyle and low profile, rarely giving interviews or appearing in public.
- Sergey Brin – $129.4 billion
Sergey Brin, born in 1973, is the co-founder of Google alongside Larry Page. His net worth is estimated at $129.4 billion, placing him 10th on the global wealth rankings. Like Page, Brin’s wealth is primarily derived from his stake in Alphabet.
Brin served as the president of Alphabet until 2019 when he stepped down from active management. He continues to be a controlling shareholder and board member. Brin is known for his interest in cutting-edge technologies and has been involved in projects such as Google Glass and the company’s self-driving car initiative.
