Forbes recently unveiled its 2024 edition of the ‘World’s Billionaires List’, spotlighting a mix of familiar tycoons and fresh entrants.
Topping the list as the wealthiest individual globally, Bernard Arnault of LVMH commands an empire of 75 luxury fashion and cosmetics brands, such as Louis Vuitton and Sephora, boasting a net worth of $233 billion.
Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2024
| Rank | Name | Net Worth | Age | Country/Territory | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernard Arnault & family | $233 Billion | 75 | France | Fashion & Retail |
| 2 | Elon Musk | $195 Billion | 52 | United States | Automotive |
| 3 | Jeff Bezos | $194 Billion | 60 | United States | Technology |
| 4 | Mark Zuckerberg | $177 Billion | 39 | United States | Technology |
| 5 | Larry Ellison | $141 Billion | 79 | United States | Technology |
| 6 | Warren Buffett | $133 Billion | 93 | United States | Finance & Investments |
| 7 | Bill Gates | $128 Billion | 68 | United States | Technology |
| 8 | Steve Ballmer | $121 Billion | 68 | United States | Technology |
| 9 | Mukesh Ambani | $116 Billion | 66 | India | Diversified |
| 10 | Larry Page | $114 Billion | 51 | United States | Technology |
Following Arnault, Tesla’s Elon Musk secures the second spot with an impressive $195 billion, while Amazon’s Jeff Bezos holds the third position at $194 billion. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg is fourth, with a fortune of $177 billion, and Microsoft’s Bill Gates is seventh. Mukesh Ambani of India appears at ninth with $116 billion.
The 2024 list records an unprecedented count of 2,781 billionaires, up by 141 from last year and exceeding the prior high by 26 set in 2021.
Collectively, these billionaires possess $14.2 trillion in wealth, marking a $2 trillion increase from 2023 and surpassing the 2021 record by $1.1 trillion.
This year, two-thirds of the billionaires saw their fortunes grow compared to last year, with a minority experiencing a decline. The wealth surge is notably attributed to the top 20 billionaires who collectively increased their wealth by $700 billion since 2023.
Among the notable new faces on the list are pop sensation Taylor Swift and Sam Altman, the co-creator of ChatGPT, marking their entry into the billionaires’ circle.
