The Forbes Real – Time Billionaires list has revealed that Elon Musk is the world’s wealthiest person as of 18 January 2024, with a staggering net worth of over $227 billion. He is the CEO of a number of companies, including electric car manufacturer Tesla and space exploration company SpaceX and his recently purchased Twitter now known as X.
He is followed by Bernard Arnault with a net worth of $174.6 billion. Arnault is the CEO and chairman at Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world’s largest luxury goods company encompassing approximately 70 renowned fashion and cosmetics brands. Notable names within its portfolio include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora. In January 2021, LVMH completed the acquisition of jeweler Tiffany & Co. for a staggering $15.8 billion.
Jeff Bezos is ranked third on the list with a wealth of $174 billion. He founded e-commerce giant Amazon in 1994 out of his Seattle garage. He stepped down as CEO to become executive chairman in 2021. He owns a bit less than 10% of the company. He and his wife MacKenzie divorced in 2019 after 25 years of marriage and he transferred a quarter of his then-16% Amazon stake to her.
The fourth on the list is Larry Ellison with a net worth of $134.9 billion. He co-founded the software firm Oracle in 1977 and held the position of its CEO until 2014. Currently, he assumes the company’s chairman and Chief Technology Officer roles. In 2012, Ellison made headlines when he acquired the Hawaiian island of Lanai for a sum of $300 million. Ellison also ventured into investments, including a substantial stake in Tesla, where he served on the board of directors from 2018 until 2022.
Mark Zuckerberg is the world’s fifth richest person, with a net worth of $130 billion. He is an American businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the social media service Facebook, along with his Harvard roommates in 2004, and its parent company Meta Platforms, of which he is executive chairman, chief executive officer and controlling shareholder.
Next is Bill Gates with a net worth of $119.9billion. In 1987, Forbes first recognized Gates as a billionaire. From 1995 to 2017, he maintained the title of the world’s richest person, with brief exceptions in 2008 and from 2010 to 2013. In 2021, Gates and Melinda French Gates finalized their divorce, with Melinda receiving at least $6 billion in stocks as part of the settlement. According to Forbes’ estimates, Gates’ fortune experienced a modest increase of approximately $500 million from May 1 to June 1, 2023, allowing him to ascend one spot in the rankings to secure the fifth position.
Warren Buffett is seventh on the list with a personal wealth of $119.2 billion. He is the head of Berkshire Hathaway, an investment conglomerate with a diverse portfolio encompassing numerous companies, such as insurance provider Geico, battery manufacturer Duracell, and restaurant chain Dairy Queen.
He is followed by Larry Page who has a net worth of $118.7 billion. Larry Page and his fellow Stanford PhD student Sergey Brin co-founded Google in 1998. Initially, Page held the position of CEO until 2001 and later resumed the role from 2011 to 2015. Currently, he serves as a member of the board of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and retains significant control over the company as a major shareholder.
Next is Steve Ballmer with a net worth of $115.4 billion. He was a Harvard University classmate of Bill Gates and he assumed the role of CEO at Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. His journey with Microsoft began in 1980 when he joined as the company’s 30th employee, having dropped out of the MBA at Stanford University. Not long after, he retired from Microsoft and made headlines by acquiring the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for $2 billion, setting a new benchmark for the highest price paid for an NBA team at that time.
Sergey Brin is ranked tenth, with a net worth of $113.8 billion. He is an American businessman best known for co-founding Google with Larry Page. Brin was the president of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., until stepping down from the role on December 3, 2019. He and Page remain at Alphabet as co-founders, controlling shareholders and board members.
Below is the list along with their net worth:
1 Elon Musk $227.8 billion
2 Bernard Arnault & family – $174.6 billion
3 Jeff Bezos – $174.0 billion
4 Larry Ellison – $134.9 billion
5 Mark Zuckerberg – $130.2 billion
6 Bill Gates – $119.9 billion
7 Warren Buffett – $119.2 billion
8 Larry Page – $118.7 billion
9 Steve Ballmer – $115.4 billion
10 Sergey Brin – $113.8 billion
