Forbes’ annual list shows there were more billionaires this year than ever before. The “Rich List” is the annual roundup of the biggest bankrolls on the planet, and this year there were multiple faces entering the 2024 billionaire category.
The report says the 2024 list is “richer than ever, with a combined value of $14.2 trillion, up $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the record precedent, also established in 2021. Two-thirds of list members are worth more than a year ago; only a quarter are poorer. Much of the gains come from the top 20, which have added a combined $700 billion in wealth since 2023, and from the United States, which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion.”
Taylor Swift is one of those new faces after breaking the bank with her award-winning, record-selling Eras tour. She makes the list with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion.
Forbes Rich List
Bernard Arnault takes the top spot on the annual list and is closely followed by billionaire philanthropist and X owner Elon Musk. The top 10 are as follows:
- Bernardo Arnault — $233 billion: Oversees the LVMH empire of 75 fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sephora.
- Elon Musk — $195 billion: Co-founded six companies, including electric car maker Tesla, rocket maker SpaceX and tunneling start-up Boring Company. He made headlines last year for all the wrong reasons, and his social media takeover of Twitter saw investors such as Coca-Cola and Disney flee after backing an anti-Semitic message.
- Jeff Bezos — $194 billion: Amazon’s archduke has been a feature on this list, and the shopping platform shows no signs of slowing down.
- Marco Zuckerberg — $177 billion: Co-founded Facebook and is the head of Meta.
- Larry Ellison — $141 billion: owner and majority shareholder of Oracle. The company rose to prominence after being an integral part of hybrid working during and after COVID-19.
- Warren Buffett — $133 billion: Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffett has seen his wealth increase since 2020 to reach an all-time high in 2024.
- Bill Gates — $128 billion: Gates needs no introduction and has diversified his portfolio into many different investment streams.
- Steve Ballmer — $121 billion: former CEO of Microsoft.
- Mukesh Ambani –– $116 billion: CEO of Reliance Industries, which has interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, retail and financial services.
- Larry Page — $114 billion: controlling shareholder and former CEO of Alphabet, owner of Google.
This year’s ranking shows 2,781 people qualify for the nickname “billionaire” before 2023, an increase of 141 from the previous year.
Image: Forbes.
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