The Top 10 Richest People in the World in 2024

The world’s top 10 richest people have staggering fortunes in various industries. Get insights into their extraordinary wealth and accomplishments.

In today’s society, where many strive for success through business and innovation, there are a few people who have achieved incredible wealth. These exceptional leaders have risen to the top because of their vision and creativity, becoming some of the richest individuals in the world.

Their achievements are remarkable. For instance, the combined wealth of the top 10 richest people exceeds the total income of many countries. Most of these billionaires have made their fortunes in technology, finance, and retail.

However, this growing gap between the super-rich and the rest of society is a major concern globally.

This article introduces the identities of these top 10 wealthiest individuals worldwide. It explores their outstanding achievements in business, their entrepreneurial skills, and their significant impact on the global economy.

Disclaimer: Currency values mentioned in this article are accurate as of 09.07.2024 and are subject to fluctuation.

Top 10 Richest People in the world:

Get to know the top 10 richest people in the world.

Elon Musk

• Age: 53
• Residence: Boca Chica, Texas
• Citizenship: US

Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world. He runs many big companies, like Tesla, which makes electric cars, and SpaceX, which explores space. Musk owns 23 percent of Tesla. Most of his money, about two-thirds of it, depends on how well Tesla does. In October 2022, Musk made news by buying Twitter for $44 billion.

In 2010, Musk took Tesla public, meaning people could buy shares in it. Tesla grew a lot in value in 2020 and 2021. This made Musk one of the top 10 richest people by September 2021. At its highest point in November 2021, Musk’s wealth reached an incredible $320 billion.

Jeff Bezos

• Age: 60
• Residence: Medina, Washington
• Citizenship: US

In July 2021, Jeff Bezos chose to step down as CEO of Amazon, a major online shopping company, but he stayed on as chairman. Around the same time, he took a trip to space on a rocket made by Blue Origin. Bezos started Blue Origin with a lot of his own money to explore space privately.

Bernard Arnault & Family

• Age: 75
• Residence: Paris
• Citizenship: France

Bernard Arnault is the second richest person in the world. He is the CEO and chairman of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), which is the biggest company in luxury goods. LVMH owns about 70 famous brands in fashion and cosmetics. Some well-known names under LVMH are Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora.

In January 2021, LVMH bought jeweller Tiffany & Co. for a huge $15.8 billion.

Arnault’s five children are involved in different parts of LVMH. In January 2023, he chose his daughter Delphine to lead Dior, which is the second-largest brand in the group.

Mark Zuckerberg

• Age: 40
• Residence: Palo Alto, California
• Citizenship: US

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, launched its main social media platform, Facebook, in 2004 when he was just 19 years old and a student at Harvard University studying computer science and psychology. Initially, Facebook was created to connect names with photos of students on campus. In 2006, it became accessible to anyone over 13 years old with a valid email address.

In May 2012, Zuckerberg took Facebook public, allowing people to buy shares of the company. By December 2016, he was ranked 10th on Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful People. Currently, Zuckerberg owns about 13 percent of Meta’s stock.

Mark Zuckerberg, who is 39 years old, is married to Priscilla Chan, and they have three daughters together. They are committed to spending $3 billion to try to end, cure, or manage all diseases by the year 2100.

Larry Ellison

• Age: 79
• Residence: Manalapan, Florida
• Citizenship: US

Larry Ellison helped start Oracle, a software company, in 1977 and was its CEO until 2014. Now, he’s the company’s executive chairman and Chief Technology Officer. In 2012, Ellison made news by buying the Hawaiian island of Lanai for $300 million. He has also invested in companies like Salesforce.com, NetSuite, Quark Biotechnology Inc., and Astex Pharmaceuticals.

Larry Page

• Age: 51
• Residence: Palo Alto, California
• Citizenship: US

Larry Page, along with his Stanford PhD colleague Sergey Brin, started Google in 1998. Page was CEO initially until 2001 and then again from 2011 to 2015. He continues to be on the board of Alphabet, which is Google’s parent company, and holds a substantial amount of control over the company as a major shareholder.

Besides Google, Page also invested early in Planetary Resources, a company focused on mining resources from asteroids and other planets.

Sergey Brin

• Age: 50
• Residence: Los Altos, California
• Citizenship: US

Sergey Brin, together with his Stanford PhD colleague Larry Page, co-founded the Google search engine in 1998. Brin, originally from Russia, started as the technology president at Google and later focused on special projects. One of his notable projects was leading the development of Google Glass, a wearable device with voice-activated “smart glasses.”

Currently, Brin is a board member of Alphabet, which is Google’s parent company, and he maintains a substantial ownership stake in the company, giving him significant control.

Bill Gates

• Age: 68
• Residence: Medina, Washington
• Citizenship: US

In 1987, Forbes first recognized Bill Gates as a billionaire. From 1995 to 2017, he held the title of the world’s richest person, except for brief periods in 2008 and from 2010 to 2013. In 2021, Bill and Melinda French Gates finalized their divorce, with Melinda receiving at least $6 billion in stocks as part of the settlement.

After leading Microsoft for 25 years, Gates shifted his focus to philanthropy. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation started its work in India in 2003, launching the Avahan initiative for HIV prevention. This initiative alone is estimated to have prevented 600,000 new infections.

Steve Ballmer

• Age: 68
• Residence: Hunts Point, Washington
• Citizenship: US

Steve Ballmer, a classmate of Bill Gates at Harvard University, became CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. He started at Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee, leaving his MBA program at Stanford University.

In the year Ballmer retired from Microsoft, he made news by buying the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for a record $2 billion. This set a new standard for the highest price ever paid for an NBA team at that time.

Warren Buffett

• Age: 93
• Residence: Omaha, Nebraska
• Citizenship: US

Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is one of history’s most successful investors. He leads Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns many companies like Geico insurance, Duracell batteries, Apple, Nu Holdings, and Dairy Queen restaurants.

In 2010, Buffett teamed up with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates to start the Giving Pledge initiative. This encourages billionaires to give away at least half of their wealth to charity. Buffett himself plans to donate 99 percent of his fortune, showing his strong dedication to philanthropy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many billionaires are there globally in 2024?

As of April 2, 2024, there are 2,781 billionaires worldwide, an increase from last year. Together, they hold a total wealth of $14.2 trillion.

Can billionaires’ net worth change?

Yes, billionaires’ net worth can fluctuate significantly. Much of their wealth is tied to stocks that are publicly traded, so their fortunes can rise or fall based on stock market changes.

Which country has the most billionaires?

As of the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2024, the United States has the highest number of billionaires with 813 individuals. China follows with 473 billionaires, and India is third with 200 billionaires.

Published: 23rd July 2024

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