Below is a continuously updated list of the 50 richest people in the world. Over the past three decades, the title of the world’s richest person has changed hands multiple times, influenced by global economic shifts, technological advancements, and market trends.
In the early 1990s, Japanese real estate and investment tycoons dominated the rankings due to Japan’s economic boom. However, the late 1990s saw a shift toward American entrepreneurs, especially in the technology sector. Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, held the top position for 18 years between 1995 and 2017, symbolizing the rise of tech-driven wealth.
By 2007, investor Warren Buffett briefly claimed the top spot, followed by Jeff Bezos, whose Amazon empire led him to become the world’s first centibillionaire in 2018. Elon Musk later surpassed him, with his ventures in Tesla and SpaceX propelling him to the number-one spot in 2022.
Top 50 Richest Individuals
- Elon Musk – Net Worth: $358 Billion
Elon Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur with Canadian-American citizenship, is the world’s richest person, holding a net worth of $358 billion. He is known for his ventures in technology, space exploration, and electric vehicles, including Tesla and SpaceX. In November 2021, his wealth briefly exceeded $340 billion, making him the richest individual in modern history, surpassing John D. Rockefeller.
- Jeff Bezos – Net Worth: $234 Billion
Jeff Bezos, an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and space explorer, has amassed a fortune of $234 billion. As the founder of Amazon, he played a key role in revolutionizing e-commerce. Bezos, who previously held the title of the world’s richest person from October 2017 to January 2021, is now the chairman of Amazon’s board.
- Mark Zuckerberg – Net Worth: $232 Billion
With a net worth of $232 billion, Mark Zuckerberg is one of the wealthiest individuals globally. The American tech mogul and philanthropist co-founded Facebook (now Meta), shaping the landscape of social media. Among the world’s 100 wealthiest people, he is the youngest.
- Larry Ellison – Net Worth: $208 Billion
Larry Ellison, an American billionaire and founder of Oracle, has a net worth of $208 billion. As the company’s former CEO, he helped Oracle become a leading software powerhouse. His wealth places him among the world’s top billionaires.
- Bernard Arnault – Net Worth: $200 Billion
French entrepreneur Bernard Arnault, worth $200 billion, built his fortune as the chairman and CEO of LVMH, the largest luxury goods company globally. He has consistently ranked among the richest people in the world.
- Bill Gates – Net Worth: $160 Billion
Bill Gates, an American entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist, has a net worth of $160 billion. As the co-founder of Microsoft, he amassed significant wealth, though he now owns less than 1.3% of the company. Over the years, he has sold billions of dollars in shares, investing the proceeds through Cascade Investment LLC.
- Larry Page – Net Worth: $150 Billion
Larry Page, an American billionaire and co-founder of Google, has a net worth of $150 billion. His contributions to the tech industry extend through Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
- Warren Buffett – Net Worth: $150 Billion
Legendary investor Warren Buffett, with a net worth of $150 billion, is regarded as one of the greatest investors of the 20th century. His financial success is primarily linked to his company, Berkshire Hathaway.
- Steve Ballmer – Net Worth: $145 Billion
Steve Ballmer, a former Microsoft CEO and current sports team owner, has a fortune of $145 billion. The majority of his wealth comes from his 333.3 million Microsoft shares, making him the company’s largest individual shareholder.
- Sergey Brin – Net Worth: $141 Billion
Sergey Brin, a Russian-born American entrepreneur, has a net worth of $141 billion. As a co-founder of Google, along with Larry Page, he played a major role in shaping the internet. Google is now a subsidiary of Alphabet, the tech giant overseeing its operations.
- Jim Walton – Net Worth: $120 Billion
Jim Walton, the youngest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is a billionaire businessman with a fortune of $120 billion. He, along with his siblings, inherited a significant portion of the retail giant’s wealth after their father’s passing.
- Jensen Huang – Net Worth: $120 Billion
A Taiwanese-American business magnate and electrical engineer, Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia and serves as its CEO. His leadership in the semiconductor and AI industry has helped him amass a net worth of $120 billion.
- Rob Walton – Net Worth: $116 Billion
S. Robson “Rob” Walton, the eldest son of Walmart’s founder Sam Walton, has a net worth of $116 billion. He played a crucial role in expanding Walmart’s global presence.
- Alice Walton – Net Worth: $116 Billion
Alice Walton, daughter of Sam Walton, is one of the world’s richest women, with a fortune of $116 billion. Unlike her brothers, she has focused more on philanthropy and the arts rather than the retail business.
- Michael Dell – Net Worth: $112 Billion
Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies, built his $112 billion fortune from a college dorm room startup. He dropped out of school to focus on his computer repair business, which eventually evolved into one of the world’s leading technology companies.
- Mukesh Ambani – Net Worth: $108 Billion
Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, chairman and largest shareholder of Reliance Industries, has accumulated a fortune of $108 billion. His diversified business empire spans energy, telecommunications, and retail.
- Gautam Adani – Net Worth: $101 Billion
Gautam Adani, founder and chairman of the Adani Group, is a leading Indian industrialist with a net worth of $101 billion. His conglomerate operates across infrastructure, energy, and logistics sectors.
- Carlos Slim Helu – Net Worth: $101 Billion
The wealthiest person in Mexico, Carlos Slim Helu has a net worth of $101 billion. His fortune comes primarily from telecommunications, with major stakes in América Móvil and other industries.
- Satoshi Nakamoto – Net Worth: $100 Billion
Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, has an estimated net worth of $100 billion. Despite being a key figure in the rise of cryptocurrency, the true identity of Nakamoto remains unknown.
- Amancio Ortega Gaona – Net Worth: $85 Billion
Spanish entrepreneur Amancio Ortega Gaona, founder of Inditex—the parent company of Zara—has built a fashion empire that has earned him a net worth of $85 billion. He is one of the richest figures in the retail industry.
- Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers – Net Worth: $76 Billion
Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, a French author and heiress, has a fortune of $76 billion. As the wealthiest woman in the world, she inherited her wealth from the L’Oréal empire.
- Changpeng Zhao – Net Worth: $70 Billion
Known as “CZ” in the cryptocurrency industry, Changpeng Zhao is a Chinese-Canadian business executive with a net worth of $70 billion. He is the founder and CEO of Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world.
- Michael Bloomberg – Net Worth: $70 Billion
Former New York City mayor and entrepreneur Michael Bloomberg built his $70 billion fortune through Bloomberg LP, a financial data and media company he co-founded.
- Vladimir Putin – Net Worth: $70 Billion
Russian President Vladimir Putin, born in the Soviet Union, is estimated to have a net worth of $70 billion, making him one of the wealthiest politicians in the world.
- Thomas Peterffy – Net Worth: $65 Billion
Thomas Peterffy, a billionaire businessman, has a net worth of $65 billion. He is the founder, chairman, and largest shareholder of Interactive Brokers, a leading online brokerage firm.
- Julia Flesher Koch – Net Worth: $63 Billion
Julia Flesher Koch, an American businesswoman and philanthropist, inherited a $63 billion fortune following the passing of her husband, billionaire industrialist David Koch.
- Charles Koch – Net Worth: $60 Billion
Charles Koch, an American businessman, has amassed a net worth of $60 billion. He is known for his leadership at Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held companies in the U.S.
- Jacqueline Mars – Net Worth: $55 Billion
Billionaire heiress and philanthropist Jacqueline Mars has a net worth of $55 billion. She is the daughter of Forrest Edward Mars Sr. and the granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, founders of the Mars candy empire.
- John Mars – Net Worth: $54 Billion
Businessman John Mars, based in Wyoming, has a net worth of $54 billion. He is one of the heirs to the Mars family fortune, which comes from the globally successful confectionery company.
- Stephen Schwarzman – Net Worth: $52 Billion
American businessman Stephen Schwarzman, with a net worth of $52 billion, co-founded The Blackstone Group, a major private equity firm. He is among the wealthiest individuals in New York.
- David Thomson – Net Worth: $50 Billion
David Thomson, the 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet, is a Canadian media mogul with a net worth of $50 billion. He is the chairman of Thomson Reuters and an influential art collector.
- Colin Huang – Net Worth: $49 Billion
Chinese businessman, investor, and philanthropist Colin Huang has a net worth of $49 billion. He is best known as the founder and former CEO of Pinduoduo, an e-commerce giant.
- Zhong Shanshan – Net Worth: $47 Billion
Zhong Shanshan, a Chinese entrepreneur, built his $47 billion fortune through Nongfu Spring, a leading bottled water company, and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy.
- Jeff Yass – Net Worth: $46 Billion
Billionaire businessman Jeff Yass, with a net worth of $46 billion, is a co-founder of the Philadelphia-based investment and trading firm Susquehanna International Group.
- Gerard Wertheimer – Net Worth: $45 Billion
French businessman Gerard Wertheimer, worth $45 billion, co-owns The House of Chanel with his brother. The luxury fashion and perfume empire has made him one of the richest individuals in France.
- Alain Wertheimer – Net Worth: $45 Billion
French businessman Alain Wertheimer has accumulated a fortune of $45 billion. He co-owns luxury fashion brand Chanel along with his brother, Gerard Wertheimer.
- Zhang Yiming – Net Worth: $44 Billion
Zhang Yiming, a Chinese entrepreneur, has a net worth of $44 billion. He is best known as the founder of ByteDance, the company behind TikTok.
- Phil Knight – Net Worth: $43 Billion
American businessman and philanthropist Phil Knight, with a net worth of $43 billion, built his fortune as the founder and largest individual shareholder of Nike Inc.
- Ken Griffin – Net Worth: $41 Billion
Ken Griffin, an American entrepreneur, has a net worth of $41 billion. He is the CEO of Citadel, a major hedge fund managing over $65 billion in assets.
- Giovanni Ferrero – Net Worth: $41 Billion
Italian businessman Giovanni Ferrero, worth $41 billion, is best known for leading the Ferrero Group, the company behind Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, and Kinder chocolates.
- Klaus-Michael Kühne – Net Worth: $40 Billion
German billionaire Klaus-Michael Kühne has a fortune of $40 billion. He made his wealth through logistics, primarily as a key figure in the global shipping and transportation company Kühne + Nagel.
- Len Blavatnik – Net Worth: $40 Billion
Ukrainian-American businessman Len Blavatnik has amassed $40 billion through diverse investments in industries such as energy, real estate, and media.
- Lukas Walton – Net Worth: $40 Billion
Lukas Walton, an American businessman, has a net worth of $40 billion. He inherited his wealth from his mother, Christy Walton, whose fortune came from Walmart.
- Ma Huateng – Net Worth: $38 Billion
Also known as “Pony Ma,” Ma Huateng is a Chinese internet entrepreneur with a fortune of $38 billion. He is the founder and CEO of Tencent, a global technology and entertainment conglomerate.
- MacKenzie Scott – Net Worth: $36 Billion
MacKenzie Scott, formerly MacKenzie Bezos, is an American novelist and philanthropist with a net worth of $36 billion. She gained significant wealth following her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and is known for her large-scale charitable donations.
- Shiv Nadar – Net Worth: $35 Billion
Indian tech entrepreneur Shiv Nadar has built a net worth of $35 billion as the founder and chairman of HCL Technologies, a major IT services company.
- Vladimir Potanin – Net Worth: $35 Billion
Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin, worth $35 billion, is one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals. He made his fortune in metals and banking.
- Tadashi Yanai – Net Worth: $35 Billion
Tadashi Yanai, a Japanese entrepreneur with a net worth of $35 billion, is the founder and CEO of Fast Retailing, the parent company of clothing giant Uniqlo.
- Miriam Adelson – Net Worth: $34 Billion
Miriam Adelson, an Israeli-American physician and political donor, has a fortune of $34 billion. She inherited her wealth as the widow of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.
- Jack Ma – Net Worth: $34 Billion
Chinese entrepreneur and investor Jack Ma, with a net worth of $34 billion, is the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, a global e-commerce and technology powerhouse.
