As of 2024, the world’s wealthiest individuals continue to amass staggering fortunes, with their net worths reaching unprecedented levels. The technology sector remains a dominant force, with several tech moguls occupying top positions on the list.
Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, this article explores the top 10 richest people in the world, providing insights into their wealth, business ventures, and notable achievements.
1. Elon Musk – Net Worth: $208 billion
Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur and innovator, maintains his position as the world’s wealthiest person in 2024. At 52 years old, Musk’s fortune stems primarily from his roles as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as his ownership of X (formerly Twitter).
Musk’s journey to the top began with his early success in the tech industry, co-founding PayPal and later selling it to eBay. However, it was his ventures into electric vehicles with Tesla and space exploration with SpaceX that catapulted him to unprecedented wealth. Tesla’s market valuation has soared in recent years, reflecting the growing demand for electric vehicles and sustainable energy solutions.
SpaceX, Musk’s private space company, has also seen remarkable success, securing contracts with NASA and revolutionizing space travel with reusable rockets. In addition to these ventures, Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in 2022 added another dimension to his business empire.
Musk’s other projects include Neuralink, focused on developing brain-computer interfaces, and The Boring Company, which aims to solve traffic problems through underground transportation systems. His ambitious goals, including colonizing Mars and transitioning the world to sustainable energy, continue to drive his business endeavors and capture public imagination.
2. Jeff Bezos – Net Worth: $203 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, holds the second spot on the list with a net worth of $203 billion. At 60 years old, Bezos has built an e-commerce empire that has transformed retail and cloud computing industries.
Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, gradually expanding it into the world’s largest e-commerce platform. Under his leadership, Amazon diversified into various sectors, including cloud computing with Amazon Web Services (AWS), streaming services with Prime Video, and artificial intelligence with Alexa.
Although Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021, he remains executive chairman and continues to play a significant role in the company’s strategic decisions. His other ventures include Blue Origin, a space exploration company competing with SpaceX, and ownership of The Washington Post.
Bezos’s wealth has allowed him to pursue philanthropic efforts, including the Bezos Earth Fund, which commits $10 billion to combat climate change. His divorce from MacKenzie Scott in 2019 resulted in a significant transfer of wealth but did not substantially impact his position among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
3. Bernard Arnault & family – Net Worth: $202 billion
Bernard Arnault, the 74-year-old French business magnate, leads the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy). With a net worth of $202 billion, Arnault and his family have built an empire encompassing over 70 prestigious brands across various sectors of the luxury market.
Arnault’s business acumen has been evident throughout his career, starting with his acquisition of Christian Dior in the 1980s. He has since expanded LVMH’s portfolio to include iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co., the latter acquired in a high-profile $15.8 billion deal in 2021.
Under Arnault’s leadership, LVMH has consistently delivered strong financial results, capitalizing on the growing demand for luxury goods in emerging markets. His strategic acquisitions and ability to maintain brand exclusivity have been key to LVMH’s success.
Arnault has also been preparing for succession, with his five children holding key positions within the LVMH group. This family-oriented approach to business leadership ensures the continuation of his legacy in the luxury goods industry.
4. Mark Zuckerberg – Net Worth: $176 billion
At 39 years old, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest person in the top 10, with a net worth of $176 billion. As the co-founder, CEO, and controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook, Inc.), Zuckerberg has played a pivotal role in shaping the social media landscape.
Zuckerberg’s journey began in his Harvard dorm room, where he created Facebook in 2004.
The platform’s rapid growth and expansion into other social media properties like Instagram and WhatsApp have contributed significantly to his wealth. In recent years, Zuckerberg has shifted the company’s focus towards the “metaverse,” rebranding Facebook as Meta Platforms to reflect this new direction.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny, Meta continues to be a dominant force in the tech industry. Zuckerberg’s wealth has allowed him to engage in philanthropic efforts through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which he founded with his wife, Priscilla Chan.
5. Larry Ellison – Net Worth: $149 billion
Larry Ellison’s net worth is $149 billion. He is the executive chairman and CTO of Oracle Corporation. Ellison’s journey in the tech industry began with the founding of Software Development Laboratories in 1977, which later became Oracle Corporation.
Under Ellison’s leadership, Oracle grew to become one of the largest software companies in the world, specializing in database management systems. His strategic acquisitions and focus on cloud computing have kept Oracle competitive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Beyond Oracle, Ellison has made significant investments in other companies, including a substantial stake in Tesla. He is also known for his extravagant lifestyle, owning luxury properties and even purchasing 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
6. Larry Page – Net Worth: $143 billion
Larry Page, co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company Alphabet Inc., has a net worth of $143 billion. At 51 years old, Page has been instrumental in developing one of the most influential companies in the world.
Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998, revolutionizing internet search and digital advertising. As CEO, he oversaw Google’s expansion into various tech sectors, including mobile operating systems (Android), video sharing (YouTube), and cloud computing.
Although Page stepped down from his executive role at Alphabet in 2019, he remains a board member and controlling shareholder. His wealth has allowed him to invest in various “moonshot” projects, including flying car companies and space exploration ventures.
7. Sergey Brin – Net Worth: $137 billion
Sergey Brin, the other co-founder of Google, closely follows his long-time partner Larry Page with a net worth of $137 billion. Born in Moscow and immigrating to the United States as a child, Brin met Page at Stanford University, where they developed the PageRank algorithm that became the foundation of Google’s search engine.
Like Page, Brin has stepped back from day-to-day operations at Alphabet but remains a significant shareholder and board member. He has shown interest in cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the field of augmented reality, through Google Glass and other projects.
Brin’s philanthropic efforts focus on Parkinson’s disease research, a cause close to his heart due to his mother’s diagnosis with the condition.
8. Warren Buffett – Net Worth: $134 billion
Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is one of the most successful investors in history. At 93 years old, Buffett has a net worth of $134 billion, primarily through his company Berkshire Hathaway.
Buffett’s investment philosophy, focused on value investing and long-term growth, has made him a legendary figure in the financial world. Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio includes significant stakes in major companies across various industries, including Apple, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola.
Known for his frugal lifestyle despite his immense wealth, Buffett has pledged to give away the majority of his fortune to philanthropic causes. He co-founded The Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates, encouraging billionaires to donate a majority of their wealth to charitable causes.
9. Bill Gates – Net Worth: $129 billion
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and renowned philanthropist, has a net worth of $129 billion. At 68 years old, Gates has transitioned from his role as a tech mogul to focus on global health and development issues through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975, playing a crucial role in the personal computer revolution. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the world’s largest PC software company. Although he has stepped back from day-to-day operations at Microsoft, he continues to serve as a technology advisor to the company.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-chairs with his ex-wife Melinda French Gates, is the largest private foundation in the world, focusing on global health, education, and poverty reduction.
10. Steve Ballmer – Net Worth: $123 billion
Rounding out the top 10 is Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team, with a net worth of $123 billion. At 68 years old, Ballmer’s wealth primarily stems from his long tenure at Microsoft and his significant shareholding in the company.
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee and eventually succeeded Bill Gates as CEO in 2000. During his tenure, Microsoft solidified its dominance in the PC market and expanded into new areas such as gaming with the Xbox console.
Since retiring from Microsoft in 2014, Ballmer has focused on philanthropic efforts through the Ballmer Group and his ownership of the LA Clippers, which he purchased for $2 billion in 2014.
