As of 2024, the world’s wealthiest individuals continue to amass staggering fortunes, with their net worths reaching unprecedented levels.
Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, this article examines the top 10 richest people globally, exploring their backgrounds, business ventures, and the sources of their immense wealth.
1. Elon Musk – Net Worth: $208 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Elon Musk, the South African-born entrepreneur, maintains his position as the world’s wealthiest person with a net worth of $208 billion. At 52 years old, Musk’s fortune stems primarily from his roles as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as his ownership of Twitter (now X).
Musk’s journey to becoming the world’s richest person is a testament to his innovative spirit and risk-taking nature. He co-founded PayPal, which was sold to eBay in 2002, providing him with the capital to pursue his ambitious projects. Tesla, his electric vehicle company, has revolutionized the automotive industry and played a significant role in the global shift towards sustainable transportation. SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company, has made remarkable strides in space exploration and commercialization, including developing reusable rockets and planning missions to Mars.
In addition to these ventures, Musk owns several other companies, including The Boring Company, which focuses on tunnel construction, and Neuralink, which is developing brain-computer interface technology. His acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 further diversified his business portfolio.
Musk’s wealth, however, is highly volatile due to its strong ties to Tesla’s stock price. His controversial public statements and management style have often led to significant fluctuations in his net worth.
2. Jeff Bezos – Net Worth: $197 billion
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, holds the second spot on the list with a net worth of $197 billion. At 60 years old, Bezos has built his fortune primarily through Amazon, the e-commerce giant that has transformed retail and cloud computing industries worldwide.
Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, gradually expanding it into the “everything store” it is today. Under his leadership, Amazon diversified into various sectors, including cloud computing (Amazon Web Services), artificial intelligence, and entertainment (Amazon Prime Video).
Although Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021, he remains executive chairman and still owns a significant portion of the company’s shares. Beyond Amazon, Bezos has invested in numerous other ventures, including Blue Origin, his space exploration company, and The Washington Post, which he purchased in 2013.
Bezos’s wealth has allowed him to engage in significant philanthropic efforts, including the Bezos Earth Fund, which commits $10 billion to combat climate change.
3. Bernard Arnault & family – Net Worth: $193 billion
Bernard Arnault, the 74-year-old French business magnate, holds the third position with a net worth of $193 billion. Arnault is the chairman and CEO of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), the world’s largest luxury goods company.
Arnault’s business acumen has been evident throughout his career. He started in his family’s construction business before pivoting to luxury goods in the 1980s. He acquired Christian Dior in 1985 and later gained control of LVMH, transforming it into a global powerhouse of luxury brands.
Under Arnault’s leadership, LVMH has grown to encompass over 70 distinguished brands across various sectors, including fashion, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, and watches and jewelry. The conglomerate includes iconic names such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hennessy, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co..
Arnault’s success is attributed to his strategic acquisitions, brand development, and ability to maintain the exclusivity and desirability of luxury products in a global market. His children are also involved in various aspects of the LVMH empire, ensuring a family legacy in the luxury goods industry.
4. Mark Zuckerberg – Net Worth: $167 billion
At 39 years old, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest person in the top 10, with a net worth of $167 billion. Zuckerberg’s wealth primarily comes from his role as the co-founder, CEO, and controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook, Inc.).
Zuckerberg’s journey began in his Harvard dorm room, where he created Facebook in 2004. The social networking platform quickly gained popularity, expanding beyond college campuses to become a global phenomenon. Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, the company has acquired other major platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, and has ventured into virtual and augmented reality with its Meta rebrand.
Despite facing numerous controversies related to user privacy and content moderation, Meta continues to be one of the most influential tech companies globally. Zuckerberg’s wealth has seen significant growth in recent years, particularly due to the success of Instagram Reels, Meta’s answer to TikTok.
Outside of his work at Meta, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are known for their philanthropic efforts through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which focuses on issues such as education, scientific research, and criminal justice reform.
5. Larry Ellison – Net Worth: $149 billion
Larry Ellison’s net worth, at 79 years old, is $149 billion. Ellison is the co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation, one of the largest software companies in the world.
Ellison’s journey in the tech world began in the 1970s when he worked on a database project for the CIA. This experience led him to co-found Software Development Laboratories in 1977, which later became Oracle Corporation. Under Ellison’s leadership, Oracle grew to become a dominant force in database software and enterprise technology solutions.
Although Ellison stepped down as CEO in 2014, he remains actively involved in the company as executive chairman and CTO. Beyond Oracle, Ellison has made significant investments in other tech companies, including a substantial stake in Tesla. He also owns most of the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which he purchased in 2012.
Ellison is known for his lavish lifestyle, including owning luxurious properties and yachts. He has also been involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly in medical research and education.
6. Larry Page – Net Worth: $143 billion
Larry Page, aged 51, has a net worth of $143 billion. Page is best known as the co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company, Alphabet Inc.
Page’s journey in tech began at Stanford University, where he met Sergey Brin. Together, they developed the PageRank algorithm, which became the foundation for Google’s search engine. Founded in 1998, Google quickly became the world’s most popular search engine and expanded into various other tech sectors.
Under Page’s leadership, first as Google’s CEO and later as CEO of Alphabet, the company grew into one of the most valuable and influential tech giants globally. Although Page stepped down from his executive role at Alphabet in 2019, he remains a board member and controlling shareholder.
Page has also invested in various “moonshot” projects, including flying car companies Kitty Hawk and Opener. His wealth continues to grow primarily due to his significant stake in Alphabet.
7. Sergey Brin – Net Worth: $137 billion
Sergey Brin, the other co-founder of Google, has a net worth of $137 billion at the age of 50. Like his partner Larry Page, Brin’s wealth primarily stems from his stake in Alphabet Inc.
Born in Moscow and immigrating to the United States as a child, Brin met Page at Stanford while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science. Their collaboration led to the creation of Google, which they initially ran from a rented garage.
As Google’s president of technology, Brin was instrumental in the company’s rapid growth and diversification. He later became the president of Alphabet when it was formed in 2015. Although he stepped down from his executive role in 2019, Brin remains a board member and major shareholder.
Brin has shown interest in various technological advancements, including artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. He has also been involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly in Parkinson’s disease research.
8. Bill Gates – Net Worth: $129 billion
Bill Gates, at 68 years old, holds a net worth of $129 billion. Gates is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft, the world’s largest personal computer software company.
Gates’s journey in tech began when he dropped out of Harvard to start Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975. Under Gates’s leadership, Microsoft became a dominant force in the personal computer revolution, with its Windows operating system and Office suite becoming ubiquitous in homes and offices worldwide.
Although Gates stepped down as Microsoft’s CEO in 2000 and left his full-time role at the company in 2008, he remained on the board until 2020. Today, his wealth comes not only from his remaining stake in Microsoft but also from a diversified portfolio of investments.
Gates has become equally well-known for his philanthropic efforts. Along with his ex-wife Melinda, he co-chairs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest private foundations, which focuses on global health, education, and poverty reduction.
9. Steve Ballmer – Net Worth: $123 billion
Steve Ballmer, aged 68, has accumulated a net worth of $123 billion. Ballmer is best known for his long tenure as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee and first business manager hired by Bill Gates. During his time as CEO, Microsoft’s annual revenue surged from $23 billion to $77 billion, and the company expanded its reach into enterprise software, cloud computing, and gaming with the Xbox.
Since retiring from Microsoft, Ballmer has focused on other ventures. In 2014, he purchased the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for $2 billion. He has also founded USAFacts, a non-profit organization dedicated to making government data more accessible and understandable.
Ballmer’s wealth continues to grow primarily due to his significant stake in Microsoft, which he has held onto since leaving the company.
10. Warren Buffett – Net Worth: $120 billion
Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” rounds out the top 10 with a net worth of $120 billion at the age of 93. Buffett is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns a diverse array of businesses and holds significant stakes in many major companies.
Buffett’s investing career began at a young age, and he’s known for his value investing philosophy. Under his leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has achieved remarkable long-term growth, with investments in companies across various sectors including insurance, energy, railroads, and consumer goods.
Despite his immense wealth, Buffett is known for his frugal lifestyle and his commitment to philanthropy. He has pledged to give away more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropic causes, primarily through the Gates Foundation and foundations run by his children.
Buffett’s enduring influence on the investment world and his reputation for financial wisdom have earned him a unique place among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
