Billionaires are significant contributors to society, driving development and innovation. Additionally, they serve as a source of motivation for many young individuals today. To provide insights, we have compiled a list of the Top 10 Wealthiest Individuals globally, complete with essential information for your reference. Be sure to explore the list.
Top 10 Richest People in the World 2024
|
Name & Rank |
Net Worth (in $ Billions) |
Source of Wealth |
Country |
|
1 Bernard Arnault & family |
$233 |
LVMH |
France |
|
2 Elon Musk |
$194 |
Tesla, SpaceX |
United States |
|
3 Jeff Bezos |
$195 |
Amazon |
United States |
|
4 Mark Zuckerberg |
$177 |
|
United States |
|
5 Larry Ellison |
$141 |
Oracle |
United States |
|
6 Warren Buffett |
$133 |
Berkshire Hathaway |
United States |
|
7 Bill Gates |
$128 |
Microsoft |
United States |
|
8 Steve Ballmer |
$121 |
Microsoft |
United States |
|
9 Mukesh Ambani |
$116 |
Reliance Industries |
India |
|
10 Larry Page |
$114 |
|
United States |
1. Bill Gates
For years, Bill Gates has held the title of the world’s wealthiest individual. He established and served as the former CEO of Microsoft, the leading software corporation globally. During his time at Harvard University, Bill Gates collaborated with his childhood companion Paul Allen to create innovative software for microcomputers in 1975. With its notable success, Bill made the decision to leave college and establish Microsoft alongside Paul. Presently, Microsoft manufactures personal computers, offers email services via its exchange server, and markets video game systems and related gaming products. Furthermore, Bill is actively engaged in philanthropic endeavors through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Age: 68
- Residence: United States
- Co-founder: Microsoft
- Net Worth: $149 billion
- Microsoft Ownership Stake: 4% ($26.8 billion)
- Other Assets: $70.9 billion in cash and billions over multiple other companies
2. Elon Musk
Everyone is familiar with the billionaire innovator Elon Musk, who owns Tesla, SpaceX, and the renowned social media platform X, previously recognized as Twitter. Born in South Africa, Elon moved to the United States to pursue his education. Prior to Tesla, he had established several prosperous ventures. Presently, Elon is focused on advancing space technology and Artificial Intelligence, solidifying his position as one of the most visionary billionaires globally. Additionally, he is exploring the potential of human habitation on other planets within our solar system.
- Age: 52
- Residence: United States
- Co-founder and CEO: Tesla
- Net Worth: $215 billion
- Tesla Ownership Stake: 13% ($83 billion)
- X Ownership Stake: 79% ($8.37 billion)
- Other Assets: Space Exploration Technologies ($71.2 billion private asset), The Boring Company ($3.33 billion private asset), Neuralink ($2.07 billion private asset)
3. Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook while at Harvard in 2004 with his friends Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. Zuckerberg left Harvard to work on Facebook full-time as it gained popularity, eventually becoming one of the largest social media platforms globally. He now serves as the chairman of Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Meta is a leader in the technology industry, focusing on AI and virtual reality. Additionally, Zuckerberg is engaged in the Chan Zuckerberg initiative with his wife, aiming to address social issues through technology.
- Age: 39
- Residence: United States
- CEO and Chair: Meta Platforms
- Net Worth: $171 billion
- Meta Platforms Ownership Stake: 13% ($136 billion total)
- Other Assets: $4.45 billion in cash
4. Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon, the world’s largest E-Commerce platform, in his garage in 1994. Initially a book-selling platform, Amazon has grown to become one of the largest online retailers. In 2021, Bezos stepped down as Amazon’s CEO to focus on other ventures, including Blue Origin, a space tourism company. Blue Origin successfully completed its first flight in 2021. Additionally, Bezos is the owner of the renowned Washington Post.
- Age: 60
- Residence: United States
- Founder and Executive Chair: Amazon (AMZN)
- Net Worth: $199 billion
- Amazon Ownership Stake: 10% ($166 billion)
- Other Assets: Blue Origin ($15 billion private asset), The Washington Post ($250 million private asset), Koru ($500 million private asset), and $17.8 billion in cash
5. Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault reigns as the leader in the luxury goods industry. As a French citizen, he is the owner of the renowned luxury conglomerate LVMH, encompassing iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hennessey, Marc Jacobs, and Sephora. Additionally, he holds a significant ownership in Christian Dior, a substantial contributor to his vast wealth. These substantial stakes are under the control of Arnault and his family. His professional journey commenced within his father’s construction business, eventually paving the way for his ventures into real estate and other sectors before venturing into luxury, establishing him as one of the wealthiest individuals globally.
- Age: 74
- Residence: France
- CEO and Chair: LVMH
- Net Worth: $198 billion
- Christian Dior Ownership Stake:5% ($152 billion total)
- Other Assets: Moelis & Company equity ($30.9 billion public asset) and $15.2 billion in cash
6. Sergey Brin
Sergey Brin, born in Russia, relocated to the USA in 1979. He co-founded Google with Larry Page and served as the CEO of Alphabet until 2019 when Sundar Pichai assumed the position. Brin is actively involved in philanthropy, having donated millions to Parkinson’s disease research through a partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation. During his tenure, Google diversified its offerings to include tools like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Google Chat, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, among others. As a result, he is now recognized as one of the Top 10 wealthiest individuals globally.
- Age: 50
- Residence: United States
- Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet
- Net Worth: $120 billion
- Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($101.9 billion total)
- Other Assets: $18 billion in cash
7. Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison, the individual behind the creation of the renowned backend database software Oracle, is among the top 10 wealthiest individuals globally. He left college in 1966 to pursue a career as a computer programmer. Alongside his partner, he established Software Development Laboratories with Oates and Miner, later rebranded as Oracle Systems. Ellison is actively involved in philanthropic endeavors, contributing to various universities. Throughout his tenure at Oracle, he has overseen the acquisition of major companies such as Sun Microsystems and Cerner.
- Age: 79
- Residence: United States
- Co-founder, Chair, and CTO: Oracle
- Net Worth: $127 billion
- Oracle Ownership Stake: 42%+ ($93.7 billion)
- Other Assets: Tesla equity ($9.09 billion public asset), $24.2 billion in cash
8. Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer was the 30th person to join the Microsoft team. Bill persuaded him to leave Stanford and work at Microsoft. After Gates, he became the CEO of Microsoft and supervised the acquisition of Skype. Presently, Ballmer holds a 4% stake in Microsoft. Following his resignation as CEO, he acquired the renowned basketball team LA Clippers. He is credited with expanding Microsoft’s portfolio by introducing the Surface tablet and Windows Mobile while leading the company. Currently, he ranks among the top 10 wealthiest individuals globally.
- Age: 67
- Residence: United States
- Owner: Los Angeles Clippers
- Net Worth: $143 billion
- Microsoft Ownership Stake: 4% ($132 billion total)
- Other Assets: Los Angeles Clippers ($4.56 billion private asset), The Forum ($400 million private asset), Intuit Dome ($2 billion private asset), $3.90 billion in cash
9. Larry Page
Larry Page, along with his friend Sergey Brin, co-founded Google in 1998, making him one of the wealthiest individuals globally. Google, which is one of the largest search engines worldwide, is also the owner of popular platforms like YouTube and Android. After acquiring Android in 2005, Google’s operating system became widely used in mobile phones globally. In 2015, Alphabet became Google’s parent company. Additionally, Larry Page has invested in flying car companies such as Kitty Hawk and Opener, despite Kitty Hawk discontinuing its operations in 2022.
- Age: 50
- Residence: United States
- Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet
- Net Worth: $126 billion
- Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($108.5 billion total)
- Other Assets: $17.9 billion in cash
10. Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett, a renowned individual investor globally, gained prominence by acquiring a stake in Berkshire Hathaway, a textile firm, in 1962. By 1965, he emerged as the company’s largest shareholder. Buffett subsequently diversified the company’s portfolio to include insurance and various other investments in 1967. Known for his strategy of investing in undervalued companies and holding onto them, Buffett retired as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO but continues to be among the wealthiest individuals worldwide.
- Age: 93
- Residence: United States
- CEO: Berkshire Hathaway
- Net Worth: $135 billion
- Berkshire Hathaway Ownership Stake: 15% ($134 billion)
- Other Assets: $1.40 billion in cash