Forbes - Here Are The Top 10 Richest People In The World As Of March 2025
In March 2025, the top 10 richest individuals experienced a collective decrease in net worth by $140 billion, bringing their total worth to $1.89 trillion from $2.3 trillion at the start of February. Elon Musk, despite remaining the wealthiest person, saw his fortune decrease by $62 billion due to a 25% drop in Tesla's market valuation. This decline was partly attributed to public dissatisfaction with Musk's decisions in his governmental role, leading to protests and vandalism of Tesla dealerships. Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg rose to the second richest position, surpassing Jeff Bezos, whose net worth fell due to an 11% drop in Amazon's stock price. Warren Buffett was the only individual among the top 10 whose fortune increased, thanks to a 10% rise in Berkshire Hathaway shares, adding nearly $15 billion to his wealth. Other notable figures include Larry Ellison, Bernard Arnault, and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, all of whom experienced declines in their fortunes due to falling stock prices of their respective companies.
Key Points:
- Elon Musk's net worth decreased by $62 billion due to a 25% drop in Tesla's market valuation.
- Mark Zuckerberg became the second richest person, surpassing Jeff Bezos, due to a decline in Amazon's stock.
- Warren Buffett's fortune increased by nearly $15 billion, the only gain among the top 10, due to a rise in Berkshire Hathaway shares.
- The collective net worth of the top 10 richest people decreased by $140 billion in February 2025.
- Public dissatisfaction with Musk's decisions led to protests and vandalism of Tesla dealerships.
Details:
1. 💸 Global Wealth Decline in March 2025: A Billionaire's Plummet
- The world's 10 richest people lost a collective $140 billion in March 2025, highlighting significant volatility in global wealth.
- The combined net worth of the top 10 richest individuals decreased from $2.3 trillion at the start of February to $1.89 trillion in March, marking a substantial financial downturn.
- The decline in wealth coincided with the Trump Administration's efforts to reduce federal employment, suggesting a potential link between policy changes and economic impact.
- Individual billionaires experienced varying levels of financial loss, indicating diverse investment strategies and economic exposure.
- The economic backdrop includes a broader market downturn, possibly influenced by geopolitical tensions and shifts in global trade policies.
- The wealth decline underscores the importance of adaptive investment strategies and risk management in maintaining financial stability.
2. 📊 Forbes' Daily Billionaire Tracking: Real-Time Wealth Fluctuations
- Forbes updates the list of the top 10 richest people on Earth as of March 1st, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. ET, capturing the latest changes in net worth.
- Daily fluctuations in stock prices cause changes in the net worths of billionaires, necessitating daily updates.
- Forbes employs advanced algorithms and data analytics to provide real-time tracking of wealth changes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Real-time tracking impacts public perception and financial markets, as immediate changes in billionaire rankings can influence investor confidence.
3. 🚗 Elon Musk: From Record Highs to Significant Losses
- Elon Musk's fortune decreased by $62 billion due to a significant drop in Tesla shares, which lost a quarter of its market valuation.
- Despite the loss, Elon Musk remains the world's wealthiest person.
- In December, Musk was the first billionaire to surpass a $400 billion net worth, driven by rising Tesla shares and his AI firm xai attracting new investors.
- The sharp decline in Tesla's market value occurred by February 10th, affecting Musk's status.
4. 🌍 Musk's Controversial Decisions and Their Global Impact
- Elon Musk's net worth decreased significantly, dropping below $400 billion as of March 1st, highlighting substantial financial consequences of his recent decisions.
- The associated stock value has continued to decline, indicating persistent market instability linked to Musk's actions.
- In Europe, Musk's influence and wealth have seen a notable decrease, pointing to regional repercussions of his strategic choices, including controversial management decisions and public statements.
5. 📈 Zuckerberg Climbs, Bezos Slips: Changes in Wealth Rankings
- Mark Zuckerberg overtook Jeff Bezos to become the world's second richest person, marking a significant first in his career.
- This change was largely driven by a nearly 11% drop in Amazon's stock price in February, which resulted in a loss of over $23 billion from Jeff Bezos's fortune.
- Zuckerberg's net worth increased to $230.7 billion, surpassing Bezos's $226.1 billion.
- The stock price drop was attributed to market reactions to Amazon's quarterly reports and broader market conditions.
- Protests and vandalism at Tesla dealerships in response to Musk's government efficiency leadership actions indicate the broader impact of leadership perceptions on company reputations.
6. 💻 Stability Amidst Change: Ellison and Buffett's Fortunes
6.1. Larry Ellison's Fortune
6.2. Warren Buffett's Financial Growth
6.3. Market Impact on Billionaire Fortunes
7. 🔍 Tech Titans and Fashion Moguls: Shifts Among the Wealthiest
- Larry Page's fortune fell by $26 billion in the past month as Alphabet's shares dropped over 13%. His current net worth is $41.5 billion.
- Sergey Brin experienced a $24.4 billion decline in his fortune in the past month, bringing it to $135.4 billion.
- Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara's parent company Inditex, maintains his position at number nine for the second consecutive month with a net worth of $121.9 billion, despite a $1.4 billion decline.
- Steve Ballmer's fortune decreased by $4 billion due to a drop in Microsoft shares, with his current net worth at $107.2 billion.
- Market conditions have significantly impacted tech shares, specifically Alphabet and Microsoft, contributing to the reduction in net worth for Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Steve Ballmer.
- While the tech sector faced downturns, Amancio Ortega's relatively smaller decline indicates resilience in the fashion industry during this period.
8. 📰 Wrapping Up and Further Insights on Forbes
- The estimated wealth is $18.9 billion, a figure derived from comprehensive analysis by the Forbes wealth team.
- For a detailed breakdown of the wealth calculation process and contributing factors, refer to the full piece on forbes.com.