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As a venture capitalist, I’ve always been fascinated by the incredible wealth amassed by the world’s top billionaires. There’s something thrilling about watching the ebb and flow of fortunes, especially in the fast-paced world of tech and finance. That’s why I’m excited to dive into the latest rankings of the world’s richest individuals for 2024.
This year’s list is particularly intriguing, with some familiar faces and a few surprises. We’re seeing the continued dominance of tech moguls, but also the resilience of more traditional industries like luxury goods and investment. The top spots have been a veritable game of musical chairs, with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bernard Arnault trading places throughout the year.
What’s truly remarkable is the sheer scale of wealth we’re talking about. The combined net worth of these top 10 individuals is mind-boggling, often surpassing the GDP of entire countries. It’s a testament to the power of innovation, market disruption, and shrewd business acumen.
Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, let’s take a closer look at who’s who in the world of extreme wealth in 2024. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a curious investor, or just someone who enjoys keeping tabs on the financial elite, this list offers fascinating insights into the current state of global wealth distribution and the industries driving it.
1. Elon Musk – $266.3 billion
Elon Musk currently holds the title of the world’s richest person, with an estimated net worth of $266.3 billion. Born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1971, Musk showed an early aptitude for technology and entrepreneurship. He moved to the United States to attend university, eventually founding or co-founding several successful companies including PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company.
Musk’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Tesla, the electric vehicle and clean energy company where he serves as CEO. He also derives significant wealth from his private space exploration company SpaceX. In 2022, Musk acquired social media platform Twitter (now X) for $44 billion, adding to his portfolio of influential companies.
Known for his ambitious goals and controversial public statements, Musk has become one of the most recognizable and influential business figures in the world. His companies are at the forefront of electric vehicles, space exploration, and artificial intelligence research.
2. Jeff Bezos – $211.3 billion
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is the second wealthiest person globally with a net worth of approximately $211.3 billion. Born in 1964 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore. Under his leadership, Amazon grew into the world’s largest e-commerce company and a leader in cloud computing services.
Bezos’ wealth primarily stems from his stake in Amazon, but he has diversified his investments over the years. He owns The Washington Post and founded Blue Origin, a space exploration company. In 2021, Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon but remains executive chairman.
Known for his business acumen and long-term thinking, Bezos has been a transformative figure in retail, technology, and media. His wealth has fluctuated significantly with Amazon’s stock price, but he has consistently remained among the world’s wealthiest individuals for over a decade.
3. Larry Ellison – $202.8 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Larry Ellison, co-founder and CTO of Oracle Corporation, ranks as the third richest person in the world with a net worth of $202.8 billion. Born in 1944 in New York City, Ellison co-founded Oracle in 1977, building it into one of the largest software companies in the world.
Ellison’s wealth primarily comes from his substantial stake in Oracle, where he owns more than 40% of the company. He also holds a significant stake in Tesla, having joined its board in 2018 before stepping down in 2022.
Known for his lavish lifestyle and competitive nature, Ellison has invested in various ventures beyond technology, including real estate, sports teams, and the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which he purchased in 2012. Despite stepping down as Oracle’s CEO in 2014, Ellison remains deeply involved in the company as executive chairman and CTO.
Ellison’s net worth has seen substantial growth in recent years, particularly due to Oracle’s strong performance and increased demand for its cloud database services in the AI boom.
4. Mark Zuckerberg – $194.9 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, born on May 14, 1984, is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook, Inc.). His net worth as of September 2024 is estimated at $194.9 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world.
Zuckerberg’s wealth primarily stems from his significant stake in Meta Platforms. He briefly attended Harvard University, where he launched Facebook in February 2004 with his roommates. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a global social media giant, acquiring platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp.
Known for his ambitious goals in technology, Zuckerberg has been focusing on developing the “metaverse” and advancing artificial intelligence. Despite facing various controversies and challenges, including issues of user privacy and content moderation, Meta’s stock has shown strong performance, contributing to Zuckerberg’s substantial wealth increase in recent years.
5. Bernard Arnault & family – $175.2 billion
Bernard Arnault, born on March 5, 1949, is a French businessman, investor, and art collector. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), the world’s largest luxury goods company.
Arnault’s net worth is estimated at $175.2 billion as of September 2024. His wealth primarily comes from his 48.6% stake in LVMH, which oversees an empire of around 75 luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hennessy.
Starting his career in his father’s construction company, Arnault later shifted to the luxury sector. He acquired Christian Dior in 1985 and subsequently gained control of LVMH. Known for his strategic acquisitions and business acumen, Arnault has transformed LVMH into a global luxury powerhouse. His net worth has seen significant fluctuations, at times making him the world’s richest person.
6. Warren Buffett – $143.4 billion
Warren Buffett, born on August 30, 1930, is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns a diverse portfolio of businesses.
As of September 2024, Buffett’s net worth is estimated at $143.4 billion, making him the sixth richest person in the world. The vast majority of his wealth, about 99.5%, is tied to his ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway.
Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffett is renowned for his value investing strategy and long-term approach to the stock market. He began investing at a young age and has built most of his fortune after the age of 50. Despite his immense wealth, Buffett is known for his frugal lifestyle, still living in the same house he bought in Omaha in 1958 for $31,500.
7. Bill Gates – $138.9 billion
Bill Gates, born on October 28, 1955, is an American business magnate, software developer, and philanthropist. He co-founded Microsoft Corporation in 1975, which became the world’s largest personal computer software company. Gates served as Microsoft’s chairman, CEO, and chief software architect before stepping down from day-to-day operations in 2008 to focus on philanthropy.
Gates’ net worth of $138.9 billion primarily stems from his Microsoft shares, although he has diversified his investments over the years. He is known for his work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he established with his ex-wife in 2000. The foundation focuses on global health, education, and poverty reduction.
Despite giving away billions through his foundation, Gates remains one of the wealthiest people in the world. He has pledged to give away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime or upon his death.
8. Larry Page – $135.1 billion
Larry Page, born on March 26, 1973, is an American computer scientist and internet entrepreneur best known for co-founding Google with Sergey Brin. Page served as Google’s CEO from 2011 to 2015 and as CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, from 2015 to 2019.
Page’s net worth of $135.1 billion is largely derived from his stake in Alphabet. He and Brin developed the PageRank algorithm, which became the foundation of Google’s search engine. Under his leadership, Google expanded into various other technologies and services, including Android, Chrome, and Google Cloud.
Known for his “10X” mentality, Page encouraged Google employees to create products that are at least ten times better than those of competitors. He has also invested in flying car startups and renewable energy technologies, showing his interest in futuristic and sustainable technologies.
9. Amancio Ortega – $132.2 billion
Amancio Ortega, born on March 28, 1936, is a Spanish fashion entrepreneur and founder of the Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara clothing and accessories shops. Ortega’s net worth is estimated at $132.2 billion, making him one of the wealthiest retail magnates in the world.
Ortega’s journey began in 1975 when he and his ex-wife opened their first store in A Coruña, Spain. From this humble start, he built Inditex into a global retail powerhouse with over 7,500 stores across 90 markets. Ortega is known for his innovative “fast fashion” business model, which allows Zara to quickly respond to changing fashion trends.
Despite his immense wealth, Ortega is notoriously private and rarely gives interviews. He stepped down from active involvement in Inditex in 2011, but his family continues to play significant roles in the company. Ortega has also invested heavily in real estate, owning properties in major cities worldwide.
10. Sergey Brin – $129.4 billion
Sergey Brin, born on August 21, 1973, is an American computer scientist and internet entrepreneur who co-founded Google with Larry Page. Brin served as the president of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., until stepping down in December 2019.
Brin’s net worth of $129.4 billion primarily comes from his stake in Alphabet. Along with Page, Brin developed the PageRank algorithm that became the foundation of Google’s search engine. Under their leadership, Google expanded into various other technologies and services, becoming one of the most influential companies in the world.
Beyond his work at Google, Brin has been involved in various other projects. He has invested in Space Adventures, a space tourism company, and is a backer of LTA Research & Exploration LLC, an airship maker. Brin is also known for his interest in emerging technologies and has been involved in Google’s more experimental projects, such as Google Glass and self-driving cars.
