The Richest People in the World: Top 10 for 2024
As of 2024, the world’s wealthiest individuals have amassed fortunes that are difficult for most to comprehend. These billionaires have made their mark across various industries, from technology and retail to luxury goods and investing.
Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, let’s take a closer look at the top 10 richest people in the world, their net worth, and the paths they took to achieve such immense wealth.
1. Elon Musk – Net Worth: $242.6 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Elon Musk, the South African-born entrepreneur, tops the list as the world’s richest person with a staggering net worth of $242.6 billion. Musk’s wealth primarily stems from his leadership roles in multiple groundbreaking companies.
Musk’s journey began with his early interest in computers and entrepreneurship. After briefly attending Stanford University, he co-founded Zip2, which was later sold to Compaq for nearly $300 million. He then co-founded X.com, an online payment company that eventually became PayPal and was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion.
However, Musk’s most significant ventures came later. He founded SpaceX in 2002 with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing space technology. In 2004, he joined Tesla Motors as chairman and later became CEO, transforming it into a leading electric vehicle manufacturer. Musk’s other ventures include Neuralink, focused on brain-computer interfaces, and The Boring Company, which aims to solve traffic problems through underground tunnels.
Musk’s wealth has fluctuated dramatically due to the volatility of Tesla’s stock price, but his innovative spirit and ambitious projects have kept him at the forefront of technological advancement and wealth creation.
2. Jeff Bezos – Net Worth: $204 billion
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, holds the second spot with a net worth of $204 billion. Bezos’s journey to becoming one of the world’s wealthiest individuals is a testament to his vision and perseverance.
Born in 1964 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bezos showed an early interest in computers and technology. After graduating from Princeton University, he worked on Wall Street before deciding to start his own business. In 1994, Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookstore, operating from his garage in Seattle.
Under Bezos’s leadership, Amazon expanded far beyond books, becoming the world’s largest e-commerce platform and a leader in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS). Bezos has also invested in space exploration through his company Blue Origin and acquired The Washington Post in 2013.
Despite stepping down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021, Bezos remains executive chairman and continues to play a significant role in the company’s strategic decisions. His wealth fluctuates with Amazon’s stock price, but his position among the world’s richest remains secure.
3. Bernard Arnault & family – Net Worth: $200 billion
Bernard Arnault, the French business magnate, and his family occupy the third position with a net worth of $200 billion. Arnault’s wealth comes primarily from his leadership of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), the world’s largest luxury goods company.
Arnault began his career working for his father’s construction firm. In 1984, he acquired a textile company that owned Christian Dior, marking his entry into the luxury goods market. Over the years, Arnault strategically acquired and revitalized numerous prestigious brands, including Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co.
Under Arnault’s leadership, LVMH has grown into a conglomerate of over 75 brands across various sectors, including fashion, jewelry, wines and spirits, and hospitality. His business acumen and understanding of the luxury market have been key to LVMH’s success and his personal wealth accumulation.
4. Larry Ellison – Net Worth: $177 billion
Larry Ellison’s net worth is around $177 billion. As the co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation, Ellison’s journey to wealth is a classic Silicon Valley success story.
Born in New York City and raised in Chicago, Ellison dropped out of college twice before moving to California. In 1977, he co-founded Software Development Laboratories, which later became Oracle Corporation. Under Ellison’s leadership, Oracle grew into one of the largest software companies in the world, specializing in database management systems.
Ellison stepped down as Oracle’s CEO in 2014 but remains active in the company as executive chairman and CTO. He has also made significant investments in other tech companies and real estate, including purchasing 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
5. Mark Zuckerberg – Net Worth: $177 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), ranks fifth with a net worth of $177 billion. Zuckerberg’s rise to wealth began in his Harvard dorm room where he created Facebook in 2004.
Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, Facebook grew from a college networking site into the world’s largest social media platform. The company, now known as Meta, has expanded its reach through acquisitions of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR.
Despite facing numerous controversies and challenges, including concerns about privacy and the spread of misinformation, Zuckerberg has continued to drive Meta’s growth and expansion into new areas such as virtual and augmented reality.
6. Larry Page – Net Worth: $130 billion
Larry Page, co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company Alphabet, holds the sixth position with a net worth of $130 billion. Page’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Alphabet.
Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. Google’s innovative search engine quickly became the market leader, and the company expanded into various other areas, including mobile operating systems (Android), video sharing (YouTube), and cloud computing.
Although Page stepped down as CEO of Alphabet in 2019, he remains a board member and controlling shareholder. His wealth continues to grow as Alphabet maintains its dominant position in the tech industry.
7. Warren Buffett – Net Worth: $127 billion
Warren Buffett, often called the “Oracle of Omaha,” is seventh on the list with a net worth of $127 billion. Buffett’s wealth comes from his company Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns a diverse portfolio of businesses and investments.
Buffett showed an aptitude for business and investing from a young age. He bought his first stock at age 11 and filed his first tax return at 13. After studying under Benjamin Graham at Columbia University, Buffett began his investing career, eventually taking control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965.
Under Buffett’s leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has consistently outperformed the market, making long-term investments in a wide range of companies. Buffett is known for his value investing strategy and his frugal lifestyle despite his immense wealth.
8. Sergey Brin – Net Worth: $125 billion
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google and former president of Alphabet, is eighth on the list with a net worth of $125 billion. Like his partner Larry Page, Brin’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Alphabet.
Born in Moscow and immigrating to the United States at age six, Brin met Page at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science. Together, they developed the PageRank algorithm that became the foundation of Google’s search engine.
Brin served as president of Alphabet until 2019 and remains a controlling shareholder. He has also invested in other ventures, including space exploration and the development of artificial meat.
9. Bill Gates – Net Worth: $120 billion
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, ranks ninth with a net worth of $120 billion. Gates has been a fixture on the world’s richest list for decades, thanks to the success of Microsoft and his savvy investments.
Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, dropping out of Harvard to focus on the company. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the world’s largest personal computer software company. Gates served as CEO until 2000 and remained chairman until 2014.
In recent years, Gates has focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which works to enhance healthcare, reduce extreme poverty, and expand educational opportunities. Despite giving away billions, Gates remains one of the world’s wealthiest individuals due to Microsoft’s continued success and his diverse investment portfolio.
10. Steve Ballmer – Net Worth: $115 billion
Rounding out the top 10 is Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, with a net worth of $115 billion. Ballmer’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Microsoft, which he joined in 1980 as the company’s 30th employee.
Ballmer served as Microsoft’s CEO from 2000 to 2014, overseeing the company’s expansion into enterprise services and Xbox gaming. During his tenure, Microsoft’s annual revenue surged from $23 billion to $77 billion.
Since retiring from Microsoft, Ballmer has focused on philanthropy and his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team, which he purchased in 2014 for $2 billion.
