As an accountant with a keen interest in wealth accumulation and financial success stories, I’ve always been fascinated by the world’s richest individuals. Their astronomical net worths not only boggle the mind but also provide intriguing insights into the ever-evolving landscape of global wealth and business.
In 2024, we’re witnessing some familiar faces and a few surprises in the list of the world’s top 10 billionaires based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List. From tech moguls to fashion tycoons, these individuals have not only amassed incredible fortunes but have also shaped industries and influenced global economies.
As I delve into the numbers behind their wealth, I’m struck by the sheer scale of their financial empires. It’s not just about the bottom line; it’s about understanding the complex web of investments, companies, and market forces that contribute to these staggering net worths.
1. Elon Musk – $269.8 billion
Elon Musk, the South African-born entrepreneur, is currently the wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of $269.8 billion. Musk is best known as the CEO of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and private space company SpaceX.
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 earning degrees in economics and physics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Musk’s journey to becoming the world’s richest person began with early successes in the tech industry, including the sale of his company Zip2 to Compaq for nearly $300 million in 1999. He then co-founded X.com, which later became PayPal and was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002.
In 2004, Musk became an early investor in Tesla Motors, eventually taking over as CEO in 2008. Under his leadership, Tesla has become the world’s most valuable automaker. Musk also founded SpaceX in 2002, which has achieved numerous milestones in private space flight.
Musk’s wealth has grown tremendously in recent years, largely due to the soaring value of Tesla stock. In addition to his business ventures, Musk is known for his ambitious goals, including colonizing Mars and developing brain-computer interfaces through his company Neuralink.
2. Larry Ellison – $206.2 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Larry Ellison, co-founder and current executive chairman and CTO of Oracle Corporation, holds the second spot on the list with a net worth of $206.2 billion.
Born in New York City in 1944, Ellison was adopted and raised in Chicago. Despite dropping out of the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, Ellison found his calling in the tech industry, working as a programmer in California.
In 1977, Ellison co-founded Software Development Laboratories, which would eventually become Oracle Corporation. Under his leadership, Oracle grew to become the largest supplier of database software and the second-largest supplier of business applications globally.
Ellison’s wealth has seen significant growth in recent years, largely due to Oracle’s success in cloud computing and database management. In September 2024, Oracle’s stock surge propelled Ellison to the second-richest person in the world, surpassing Jeff Bezos.
Beyond Oracle, Ellison is known for his lavish lifestyle, including owning luxury real estate and yachts. He has also made significant philanthropic contributions, particularly in medical research.
3. Jeff Bezos – $205.8 billion
Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon, ranks third with a net worth of $205.8 billion.
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1964, Bezos showed early signs of technological ingenuity. He graduated from Princeton University with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science.
Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, operating out of his garage in Seattle. Under his leadership, Amazon expanded into a wide array of products and services, becoming the world’s largest e-commerce company.
In addition to Amazon, Bezos owns The Washington Post and Blue Origin, an aerospace company focused on developing reusable rockets for space travel.
Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021 but remains executive chairman. His wealth has fluctuated in recent years, largely due to changes in Amazon’s stock price and his divorce settlement in 2019.
Known for his business acumen and long-term thinking, Bezos has also increased his philanthropic efforts in recent years, including pledges to combat climate change and support early childhood education.
4. Bernard Arnault & family – $199.5 billion
Bernard Arnault, the French business magnate, is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods company. His net worth, including his family’s holdings, stands at $199.5 billion.
Born in Roubaix, France, in 1949, Arnault graduated from the École Polytechnique with a degree in engineering. He began his career working for his father’s construction company, Ferret-Savinel, eventually taking over as president in 1978.
Arnault’s journey to becoming a luxury goods titan began in 1984 when he acquired the bankrupt textile company that owned Christian Dior. He transformed the company and used it as a stepping stone to gain control of LVMH in 1989. Under his leadership, LVMH has grown to encompass over 70 prestigious brands, including Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co.
Known for his strategic acquisitions and business acumen, Arnault has consistently grown LVMH’s market value and global presence. His wealth has seen significant fluctuations, often competing for the title of world’s richest person with tech billionaires.
5. Mark Zuckerberg – $196.3 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), holds the fifth position with a net worth of $196.3 billion.
Born in White Plains, New York, in 1984, Zuckerberg showed an early aptitude for computer programming. He created Facebook in his Harvard University dorm room in 2004, initially as a platform for college students to connect.
Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, Facebook rapidly expanded beyond college campuses, becoming the world’s largest social media platform. The company went public in 2012, and Zuckerberg’s wealth skyrocketed as a result. In 2021, he rebranded the company as Meta Platforms, signaling a shift towards virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Zuckerberg’s tenure as CEO has been marked by both tremendous success and significant controversies, including issues related to user privacy and the platform’s impact on democracy. Despite these challenges, Meta’s stock has rebounded strongly in recent years, contributing to Zuckerberg’s substantial net worth.
6. Warren Buffett – $143.9 billion
Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and one of the most successful investors in history. His net worth stands at $143.9 billion.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1930, Buffett displayed an exceptional aptitude for business and investing from a young age. He bought his first stock at age 11 and filed his first tax return at 14. Buffett studied under renowned value investor Benjamin Graham at Columbia University, which significantly influenced his investment philosophy.
Buffett’s path to immense wealth began when he started his own investment partnerships in 1956. He acquired a controlling stake in Berkshire Hathaway, a failing textile company, in 1965 and transformed it into a diversified holding company. Under his leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has become one of the largest and most successful conglomerates in the world, with investments in a wide range of industries.
Known for his value investing strategy and long-term approach, Buffett has consistently outperformed the market over several decades. Despite his enormous wealth, he is famous for his frugal lifestyle, still living in the same house he bought in 1958 for $31,500.
Buffett is also a notable philanthropist, having pledged to give away the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. He co-founded The Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates, encouraging billionaires to donate a significant portion of their wealth to philanthropy.
7. Bill Gates – $138.6 billion
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has a net worth of $138.6 billion. Born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, Gates showed an early interest in computer programming. He dropped out of Harvard University to start Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975.
Under Gates’ leadership, Microsoft became the world’s largest personal computer software company. He served as CEO until 2000 and as chairman until 2014. Gates has since focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-founded with his ex-wife Melinda.
Gates has authored several books and is known for his efforts in global health, education, and climate change. Despite giving away billions to charity, his wealth continues to grow due to his investments and Microsoft shares.
8. Larry Page – $136.4 billion
Larry Page, co-founder of Google, has a net worth of $136.4 billion. Born on March 26, 1973, in East Lansing, Michigan, Page met Sergey Brin at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science.
Page and Brin founded Google in 1998, revolutionizing internet search. Page served as Google’s CEO from 2011 to 2015 and became CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, until stepping down in 2019.
Known for his innovative thinking, Page has been involved in various projects beyond Google, including flying car companies and renewable energy initiatives. He remains a board member and controlling shareholder of Alphabet.
9. Amancio Ortega – $133.4 billion
Amancio Ortega, the Spanish fashion tycoon, has a net worth of $133.4 billion. Born on March 28, 1936, in Busdongo de Arbás, Spain, Ortega is the founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group, best known for its Zara clothing and accessories chain.
Ortega started his career in the textile manufacturing industry in 1963. He opened the first Zara store in 1975, and over the years, expanded Inditex to include other fashion brands. Ortega is known for his fast-fashion business model, which revolutionized the clothing industry.
Despite his enormous wealth, Ortega is known for living a relatively modest lifestyle. He stepped down as chairman of Inditex in 2011 but remains a major shareholder in the company.
10. Sergey Brin – $130.6 billion
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google alongside Larry Page, has a net worth of $130.6 billion. Born on August 21, 1973, in Moscow, Russia, Brin immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six.
Brin met Larry Page at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science. Together, they developed the PageRank algorithm, which became the foundation of Google’s search engine. They launched Google in 1998, with Brin initially serving as the company’s president of technology.
Like Page, Brin stepped down from his role at Alphabet Inc. in 2019 but remains a controlling shareholder and board member. He has shown interest in various technological advancements, including artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.
Brin is also known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in the areas of Parkinson’s disease research and support for refugees.
