Forbes - Here Are The Top 10 Richest People In The World | Forbes
The top 10 richest individuals globally have a combined net worth of $1.9 trillion, an increase from $1.8 trillion in December. Elon Musk is the wealthiest, with a net worth exceeding $400 billion, largely due to SpaceX's increased valuation to $350 billion. Jeff Bezos ranks second, with his wealth rising by $10 billion due to Amazon's stock performance. Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang enters the top 10 for the first time, driven by a 171% increase in Nvidia's stock value. Notably, Bill Gates has dropped out of the top 10, and Larry Ellison's fortune decreased by $7.2 billion. Nine of the top 10 are Americans, and all are men with fortunes over $117 billion.
Key Points:
- Elon Musk's net worth increased by $91 billion due to SpaceX's valuation rise to $350 billion.
- Jeff Bezos' wealth grew by $10 billion as Amazon's stock rose by 5%.
- Jensen Huang entered the top 10 richest due to Nvidia's 171% stock increase.
- Bill Gates dropped out of the top 10 richest list in October.
- Larry Ellison's fortune decreased by $7.2 billion, dropping him to the third richest.
Details:
1. 🌍 Global Billionaire Overview
- As of January 2025, the world's 10 richest people have a combined net worth of $1.9 trillion, an increase from $1.8 trillion on December 1st, 2024.
- Seven out of the top 10 richest individuals have seen an increase in their wealth over the past month.
- The data is sourced from Forbes' report as of January 1st, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
2. 🚀 Elon Musk's Financial Leap
- Elon Musk begins the year as the world's richest person and the only billionaire tracked by Forbes to exceed a net worth of $400 billion.
- His net worth is estimated at $421.2 billion, marking a $91 billion increase since December 1st.
- The increase in Musk's fortune followed a significant event where SpaceX agreed to buy back Insider shares, valuing the company at $350 billion.
3. 🔍 Focus on Jeff Bezos and Government Involvement
3.1. SpaceX Achievements and Valuation
3.2. Musk's Political Involvement
4. 💼 New Entrants and Market Movements
- Jeff Bezos' net worth increased by $10 billion in December 2024, due to a 5% rise in Amazon's share prices, making him the world's second-richest person with an estimated net worth of $233.6 billion.
- Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang entered the top 10 richest individuals for the first time with an estimated net worth of $118 billion, attributed to a 171% increase in Nvidia's share value in 2024.
- Nvidia's market capitalization reached $3.28 trillion by the end of 2024, surpassing Microsoft in value.
- The substantial rise in Nvidia's share value reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where AI and semiconductor companies are experiencing heightened investor interest.
- Amazon's share price increase highlights the company's resilience and continued growth potential amid competitive market pressures in the e-commerce sector.
- These changes suggest a shifting landscape in the tech industry, with Nvidia's rise indicating a possible reordering of the leading companies in terms of market valuation.
5. 📉 Shifts in Rankings and Notable Absences
- Huang overtook Spain's Amano Ortega, founder of Zara, as shares of Inditex weakened, highlighting the impact of market fluctuations on personal wealth rankings.
- Bill Gates dropped out of the top 10 richest on October 1st due to a significant contraction in his fortune, indicating a notable shift in long-standing positions within the wealth rankings.
- Nine of the 10 richest people in the world are Americans, all men, with fortunes over $117 billion, underscoring the dominance of American billionaires in global wealth.
- Oracle chairman Larry Ellison's fortune fell by $7.2 billion, dropping him to the third richest person globally, illustrating the volatility of fortunes even among the ultra-wealthy.
6. 📰 Summary and Closing Remarks
- Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has a net worth of $22.5 billion.
- Bernard Arnault, CEO and Chairman of LVMH, has a net worth of $68.84 billion.
- The Forbes list of billionaires has been tracking wealth since 1987, with 2,781 billionaires recorded as of April 2024.
- For detailed insights, Forbes provides comprehensive coverage on their website.