Billionaires have a significant impact on the global economy, politics, and philanthropy. According to Forbes, there are approximately 2,640 billionaires worldwide as of 2023. The richest individual among them is Elon Musk, who serves as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and also owns Twitter.
These billionaires belong to an exclusive club and possess even greater influence. Many of them are the founders of technology giants, and a substantial portion of their wealth remains invested in the companies they originally started.
Elon Musk ($242.8 Billion)
Elon Musk is the richest person in the world with a net worth of $245.9 billion. He is the CEO of Tesla, a prominent electric car manufacturer, and SpaceX, a space exploration company. Musk resides in Austin, Texas, and holds US citizenship.
With a 23 percent stake in Tesla, a significant portion of Musk’s wealth is tied to the success of the company. In October 2022, he made headlines by purchasing Twitter for $44 billion.
Musk led Tesla to its initial public offering in 2010. The company experienced remarkable growth in market capitalization during 2020 and 2021, propelling Musk to become one of the world’s top 10 richest individuals by September 2021. In November 2021, his fortune peaked at an astonishing $320 billion.
Bernard Arnault & family ($230.5 Billion)
Bernard Arnault is the CEO and chairman at Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world’s largest luxury goods company. LVMH encompasses approximately 70 renowned fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora. With a net worth of $222.9 billion, Arnault is the second richest person in the world.
Arnault, aged 74, resides in Paris, France, and holds French citizenship. He has made significant contributions to the growth and success of LVMH. In January 2021, the company completed the acquisition of jeweller Tiffany & Co., making headlines with the staggering purchase price of $15.8 billion.
Jeff Bezos ($152.4 Billion)
Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of $152.4 billion, is the founder of Amazon and currently resides in Medina, Washington. At the age of 59, he made the decision to step down as the CEO of Amazon in July 2021. Despite relinquishing his CEO role, Bezos remained the chairman of the company.
In addition to his involvement with Amazon, Bezos also founded Blue Origin, a private space exploration company. He generously funded the company with billions of dollars. Demonstrating his passion for space exploration, Bezos embarked on a space voyage in July 2021. He journeyed aboard a rocket developed by Blue Origin, fulfilling his dream of venturing into space.
Larry Ellison ($145.0 Billion)
Larry Ellison, with a net worth of $145.0 billion, is a prominent figure in the tech industry. He co-founded Oracle, a software firm, in 1977 and led the company as CEO until 2014. Currently, Ellison holds the positions of chairman and Chief Technology Officer at Oracle.
Aside from his contributions to Oracle, Ellison made headlines in 2012 for his acquisition of the Hawaiian island of Lanai. He purchased the island for a whopping $300 million, adding to his extensive real estate portfolio. Lanai now serves as Ellison’s residence, where he enjoys the beauty of Hawaii.
Bill Gates ($118.5 Billion)
Bill Gates is a well-known figure with a net worth of $118.5 billion. He has accumulated this wealth through his association with Microsoft and various investments. At the age of 67, Gates resides in Medina, Washington and holds US citizenship. In 1987, Forbes recognized Gates as a billionaire, and he maintained the title of the world’s richest person from 1995 to 2017, with a few exceptions.
In 2021, Gates went through a divorce with his former wife, Melinda French Gates. As part of the settlement, Melinda received at least $6 billion in stocks. Despite the divorce, Gates’ fortune has continued to grow. According to Forbes’ estimates, his wealth experienced a modest increase of approximately $500 million from May 1 to June 1, 2023. This increase allowed Gates to secure the fifth position in the rankings.
Warren Buffett ( $114.9 Billion)
Warren Buffett, with a net worth of $114.9 billion, is the head of Berkshire Hathaway. He is widely recognized as the “Oracle of Omaha” and is considered one of history’s most accomplished investors. Berkshire Hathaway is an investment conglomerate with a diverse portfolio that includes companies like Geico, Duracell, and Dairy Queen.
Buffett, who is 92 years old, resides in Omaha, Nebraska and holds US citizenship. In 2010, he, along with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, established the Giving Pledge initiative. This initiative encourages billionaires to donate a minimum of 50 percent of their wealth to charitable organizations. Buffett has expressed his unwavering commitment to philanthropy by pledging to donate 99 percent of his fortune.
Larry Page ($101.8 Billion)
Larry Page is a prominent figure with a net worth of $101.8 billion. He gained his wealth through his involvement with Google, the source of his fortune. At the age of 50, Page resides in Palo Alto, California and holds US citizenship.
Page’s journey began when he co-founded Google in 1998 alongside Sergey Brin, his fellow Stanford PhD student. Initially, Page assumed the role of CEO until 2001, and later returned to the position from 2011 to 2015.
Steve Ballmer ($103.1 Billion)
Steve Ballmer is a well-known figure in the business world. He has a net worth of $103.1 billion, primarily sourced from his involvement with Microsoft and various investments. At 67 years old, he resides in Hunts Point, Washington and holds US citizenship.
Steve Ballmer’s connection with Microsoft dates back to his time at Harvard University, where he was classmates with Bill Gates. He took on the role of CEO at Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. Ballmer initially joined the company in 1980 as its 30th employee, having dropped out of the MBA program at Stanford University.
Mark Zuckerberg ($103.0 Billion)
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, has a net worth of $103.0 billion. He derives his wealth from his involvement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook. At the age of 39, Zuckerberg resides in Palo Alto, California. He holds US citizenship, indicating his national affiliation.
Carlos Slim Helu ( $101.3 Billion)
Carlos Slim Helu is a prominent figure with a net worth of $101.3 billion. He has gained his wealth primarily from his involvement in the telecom and investment sectors. At the age of 83, Carlos Slim Helu resides in Mexico City and holds Mexican citizenship.
Carlos Slim Helu, along with his family, has significant control over América Móvil. This company is the largest mobile telecommunications company in Latin America and operates in more than 15 countries. In 1990, Slim and his foreign telecom partners acquired Telmex, which was previously owned by the government. Telmex later became part of América Móvil.
