As of 2024, the world’s wealthiest individuals have amassed fortunes that continue to grow, despite global economic challenges.
Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, this article explores the lives, careers, and net worth of the top 10 richest people in the world, showcasing their remarkable achievements and the industries that have propelled them to financial success.
1. Elon Musk – Net Worth: $242.6 billion
Elon Musk, the South African-born entrepreneur, has become synonymous with innovation and disruption across multiple industries. As the founder, CEO, and chief engineer of SpaceX, as well as the CEO and product architect of Tesla, Musk has revolutionized both the aerospace and automotive sectors.
Born in Pretoria in 1971, Musk showed an early aptitude for technology, creating and selling a video game at the age of 12. After moving to Canada and then the United States for his studies, he co-founded Zip2, a web software company, which was acquired by Compaq for nearly $300 million. He then co-founded X.com, an online bank that later became PayPal and was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion.
Musk’s most significant ventures, Tesla and SpaceX, have transformed their respective industries. Tesla has become a leader in electric vehicles and clean energy, while SpaceX has achieved numerous milestones in space exploration, including reusable rockets and plans for Mars colonization. His acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 for $44 billion further expanded his influence into social media.
Musk’s net worth has seen dramatic fluctuations due to the volatile nature of Tesla’s stock price, but his position at the top of the world’s richest list underscores the immense value created by his companies.
2. Jeff Bezos – Net Worth: $211 billion
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has built one of the most valuable companies in the world, revolutionizing e-commerce and cloud computing. According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, he has a net worth of $211 billion. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1964, Bezos showed early signs of technological ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.
After graduating from Princeton University with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, Bezos worked on Wall Street before founding Amazon in 1994. What began as an online bookstore quickly expanded into a global e-commerce giant, offering everything from electronics to groceries. Under Bezos’ leadership, Amazon diversified into cloud computing with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which has become a major profit driver for the company.
Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021 but remains executive chairman. He has also invested in space exploration through his company Blue Origin and acquired The Washington Post in 2013. His philanthropic efforts include the Bezos Earth Fund, committed to combating climate change.
Despite fluctuations in Amazon’s stock price and his divorce settlement in 2019, which saw his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott receive a significant portion of Amazon shares, Bezos remains one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
3. Bernard Arnault & family – Net Worth: $194 billion
Bernard Arnault, the French business magnate, is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods company. Born in Roubaix, France, in 1949, Arnault began his career in his family’s construction business before venturing into luxury goods.
In 1984, Arnault acquired the bankrupt textile company that owned Christian Dior, marking his entry into the luxury market. He then engineered the creation of LVMH in 1987 through a series of mergers. Under his leadership, LVMH has grown to encompass over 70 distinguished brands including Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co.
Arnault’s business acumen and strategic acquisitions have transformed LVMH into a global powerhouse in the luxury sector. His focus on brand heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation has ensured LVMH’s continued growth and profitability.
The Arnault family’s wealth is closely tied to their ownership stake in LVMH, with Bernard involving his children in various leadership roles within the company, ensuring a family legacy in the luxury goods industry.
4. Larry Ellison – Net Worth: $177 billion
Larry Ellison’s net worth is around $177 billion. Ellison, co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation, has been a pivotal figure in the development of database software and technology. Born in New York City in 1944 and adopted as an infant, Ellison’s path to tech billionaire was unconventional.
After dropping out of the University of Chicago, Ellison moved to California and worked various programming jobs. In 1977, he co-founded Software Development Laboratories, which later became Oracle Corporation, named after its flagship product, the Oracle Database.
Under Ellison’s leadership, Oracle grew to become one of the largest and most influential technology companies in the world, specializing in developing and marketing database software, cloud engineered systems, and enterprise software products.
Ellison stepped down as CEO in 2014 but remains active in the company as executive chairman and CTO. Known for his lavish lifestyle, including owning luxury real estate and yachts, Ellison has also made significant philanthropic contributions, particularly in medical research and education.
5. Mark Zuckerberg – Net Worth: $170.5 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), has transformed social networking and digital communication. Born in White Plains, New York, in 1984, Zuckerberg showed an early interest in computer programming.
While studying at Harvard University, Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004, initially as a platform for college students. The social network rapidly expanded, becoming a global phenomenon. Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, Facebook acquired Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus, diversifying its social media and technology portfolio.
In 2021, Zuckerberg rebranded the company as Meta, signaling a shift towards the development of the “metaverse,” a concept of connected virtual experiences. Despite facing numerous challenges, including privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny, Meta continues to be one of the most influential tech companies globally.
Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have pledged to give away 99% of their Meta shares over their lifetimes through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, focusing on personalized learning, curing diseases, and connecting people.
6. Larry Page – Net Worth: $160 billion
Larry Page, co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company Alphabet Inc., has played a crucial role in shaping the modern internet. Born in East Lansing, Michigan, in 1973, Page showed an early interest in computers, inspired by his father’s computer science professor career.
Page met Sergey Brin at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science. Together, they developed the PageRank algorithm, which became the foundation for Google’s search engine. Founded in 1998, Google quickly became the world’s most popular search engine and expanded into various other technologies and services.
As CEO of Google and later Alphabet, Page oversaw the company’s expansion into areas such as mobile operating systems (Android), video sharing (YouTube), and innovative technologies like self-driving cars (Waymo). Although he stepped down from his executive role at Alphabet in 2019, Page remains a board member and controlling shareholder.
Page’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Alphabet, and he has invested in various “moonshot” projects, including flying cars and space exploration.
7. Warren Buffett – Net Worth: $150 billion
Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is one of the most successful investors in history. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1930, Buffett displayed an aptitude for business and investing from a young age.
After studying under Benjamin Graham at Columbia University, Buffett began his investing career. In 1965, he took control of Berkshire Hathaway, a failing textile company, and transformed it into a diversified holding company. Under Buffett’s leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has become one of the largest and most successful conglomerates in the world, with investments in a wide range of industries including insurance, energy, retail, and technology.
Buffett is known for his value investing strategy, focusing on undervalued companies with strong fundamentals. His annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders are widely read for their insights into investing and business.
Despite his immense wealth, Buffett is known for his frugal lifestyle and his commitment to philanthropy. He has pledged to give away more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropic causes, primarily through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
8. Sergey Brin – Net Worth: $146 billion
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google and former president of its parent company Alphabet Inc., has been instrumental in developing some of the most widely used internet services. Born in Moscow in 1973, Brin immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six.
Brin met Larry Page at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science. Together, they developed the PageRank algorithm and founded Google in 1998. As the company grew, Brin took on various roles, including director of special projects at Google X, where he oversaw the development of projects like Google Glass and self-driving cars.
When Google restructured to form Alphabet Inc. in 2015, Brin became its president. Although he stepped down from this role in 2019, he remains a controlling shareholder and board member.
Brin’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Alphabet. He has shown interest in emerging technologies and has invested in projects related to airships and artificial meat. Like his co-founder Page, Brin has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, particularly in Parkinson’s disease research.
9. Bill Gates – Net Worth: $128 billion
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has been a dominant figure in the personal computer revolution and a leading philanthropist. Born in Seattle, Washington, in 1955, Gates showed an early interest in computer programming.
Gates founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, developing software for the early microcomputers. The company’s big break came in 1980 when Gates negotiated a deal with IBM to provide the MS-DOS operating system for their new personal computer. Microsoft went on to dominate the PC software market with its Windows operating system and Office suite of productivity software.
Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000 and left his full-time role at the company in 2008 to focus on philanthropy. He and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has become one of the world’s largest private foundations, focusing on global health, education, and poverty reduction.
Although Gates has sold or given away much of his stake in Microsoft, he remains one of the world’s wealthiest individuals due to the company’s continued success and his diverse investment portfolio.
10. Steve Ballmer – Net Worth: $121 billion
Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team, has played a significant role in the tech industry’s growth. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1956, Ballmer met Bill Gates at Harvard University.
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee and first business manager. He held various positions within the company before succeeding Gates as CEO in 2000. During his tenure, Microsoft’s annual revenue surged from $23 billion to $77 billion, and the company expanded its reach into enterprise software, cloud computing, and gaming with the Xbox console.
After retiring from Microsoft in 2014, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. He has since focused on philanthropic efforts through the Ballmer Group, which he founded with his wife Connie, aiming to improve economic mobility for children and families in the United States.
Ballmer’s wealth primarily stems from his ownership stake in Microsoft, which he accumulated during his long tenure with the company. His energetic personality and passionate leadership style have made him a notable figure in both the tech and sports worlds.
