Who Tops the List? The World’s 10 Richest People in 2024

The landscape of global wealth continues to shift as visionary entrepreneurs and established magnates redefine industries and accumulate staggering fortunes. This year’s list of the world’s wealthiest individuals reveals fascinating stories of innovation, persistence, and strategic brilliance. From luxury goods to space exploration, these ten individuals have not only built empires but have fundamentally changed how we live, work, and connect.

Join us as we explore the lives and fortunes of the financial titans who dominate the global economy in 2024.

1. Bernard Arnault

Net Worth: $207 billion
Age: 75
Residence: France

Leading the list is Bernard Arnault, the mastermind behind LVMH – the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate. With a 48% stake in the company that owns iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Hennessey, and Sephora, Arnault has transformed his family’s construction business into a luxury empire. His journey began when he acquired and restructured Financière Agache in 1984, eventually taking control of LVMH in 1989. Today, his $192 billion stake in LVMH forms the core of his wealth, complemented by $15.8 billion in cash holdings.

2. Elon Musk

Net Worth: $203 billion
Age: 52
Residence: United States

The visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX continues to push boundaries in multiple industries. Musk’s wealth stems from his 13% stake in Tesla ($73.2 billion), 79% ownership of X ($7.09 billion), and substantial holdings in SpaceX ($71.2 billion), xAI ($13.3 billion), The Boring Company, and Neuralink. After dropping out of Stanford to launch Zip2 and later founding X.com (which became PayPal), Musk joined Tesla in 2004 and has since revolutionized both the automotive and space industries.

3. Jeff Bezos

Net Worth: $199 billion
Age: 60
Residence: United States

The Amazon founder changed global retail forever when he launched the online bookstore in 1994. Bezos now holds a 9% stake in Amazon ($165 billion) after transferring 4% to his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott in their divorce settlement. His other assets include space company Blue Origin ($15 billion), The Washington Post ($250 million), the superyacht Koru ($500 million), and $18.1 billion in cash. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2021, Bezos continues to shape the company’s direction as executive chair.

4. Mark Zuckerberg

Net Worth: $166 billion
Age: 40
Residence: United States

The Harvard dropout who created Facebook in his dorm room now oversees the Meta empire, which includes Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. Zuckerberg’s 13% stake in Meta represents $161 billion of his wealth, with nearly $5 billion in cash. Together with his wife Priscilla Chan, he launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2015, focusing on education reform, disease eradication, and criminal justice reform.

5. Larry Page

Net Worth: $153 billion
Age: 51
Residence: United States

As co-founder of Google with Sergey Brin, Page helped create a company that now commands over 92% of the global search market. His 6% stake in Alphabet (Google’s parent company) is valued at $135 billion, supplemented by $18.4 billion in cash. Page served as CEO until 2019 and has since invested in innovative ventures including flying car companies and space exploration projects.

6. Bill Gates

Net Worth: $152 billion
Age: 68
Residence: United States

The Microsoft co-founder has diversified his wealth significantly since stepping down from the software giant. While his 1% stake in Microsoft represents $26.8 billion, the majority of his fortune lies in Cascade Investment LLC ($72.8 billion). Gates has donated $41 billion to philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and co-founded the Giving Pledge with Warren Buffett to encourage wealthy individuals to commit their riches to charitable causes.

7. Sergey Brin

Net Worth: $145 billion
Age: 50
Residence: United States

Google’s other co-founder maintains a 6% stake in Alphabet valued at $127.1 billion, along with $17.9 billion in cash. Brin served as president of Alphabet until 2019 and has since focused on special projects and philanthropy. He has donated millions to Parkinson’s disease research, collaborating with The Michael J. Fox Foundation to advance treatment options.

8. Steve Ballmer

Net Worth: $144 billion
Age: 68
Residence: United States

The former Microsoft CEO became the company’s largest individual shareholder after Bill Gates gradually reduced his stake. Ballmer’s 4% Microsoft holding represents $133 billion of his wealth, while his sports investments include the Los Angeles Clippers ($4.56 billion), The Forum ($400 million), and the new Intuit Dome ($2 billion). During his tenure as CEO from 2000 to 2014, Ballmer oversaw the acquisition of Skype and significant expansion of Microsoft’s enterprise business.

9. Warren Buffett

Net Worth: $137 billion
Age: 93
Residence: United States

The legendary investor known as the “Oracle of Omaha” built his fortune through Berkshire Hathaway, where he maintains a 15% stake worth $136 billion. Buffett transformed the struggling textile manufacturer into a diversified holding company with investments in insurance, energy, railroads, and consumer products. A committed philanthropist, he has donated $41 billion between 2006 and 2020 and co-founded the Giving Pledge to encourage wealth distribution.

10. Larry Ellison

Net Worth: $132 billion
Age: 79
Residence: United States

The Oracle co-founder maintains a 42% stake in the software giant valued at $98.3 billion, along with $25.3 billion in cash and Tesla equity worth $8.02 billion. Ellison founded Oracle in 1977 and pioneered commercial relational database software, building the company into the world’s second-largest software provider. His philanthropic efforts include donating $200 million to USC for cancer research and backing the Oracle Team USA sailing team.

The Broader Picture

While Bernard Arnault currently holds the title of world’s richest man, the richest woman remains Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, with a $99.6 billion fortune derived from her L’Oréal holdings.

What becomes clear from examining these extraordinary fortunes is that while inheritance can provide a starting point, the largest fortunes are typically built through groundbreaking ideas executed with relentless drive and strategic vision. These individuals have not only accumulated wealth but have fundamentally transformed how we shop, communicate, travel, and even think about what’s possible.

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