Billionaires are some of the most influential individuals on the entire globe. They significantly affect substantial parts of the global economy. Moreover, they play significant roles in everything from media to philanthropy, scientific innovation, and international politics.
They created some of the world’s largest companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google (among others), which hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. Many billionaires’ fortunes are tied to the performance of their companies. As a company grows and becomes more valuable, so too does its founder’s net worth.
Top 10 Richest People List in the World
| # | Name | Country Name | Net Worth ($ Billion) Estimated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernard Arnault | Netherlands | 212 |
| 2 | Elon Musk | South African-Canadian-American | 202.5 |
| 3 | Jeff Bezos | America | 126.5 |
| 4 | Larry Ellison | America | 118.3 |
| 5 | Bill Gates | America | 110 |
| 6 | Warren Buffett | America | 106.8 |
| 7 | Michael Bloomberg | America | 94.5 |
| 8 | Carlos Slim Helu | Mexico | 93.4 |
| 9 | Steve Ballmer | America | 91 |
| 10 | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers | French | 89.4 |
Read also: Top 10 Handsome Men in the world.
According to Forbes, Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani was the eighth richest person in the world on March 1, 2023. However, the value of the stocks owned by Steve Ballmer and Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, who were ranked No. 9 and 10 respectively last month, increased, putting both of their fortunes above Ambani’s. On April 1, Mike Bloomberg debuted in the top ten at No. 7, while Ambani dropped to No. 13.
These are the top 10 richest people in the world as of April 1, 2023, according to Forbes. Please be aware that the ranking and the available net worths may change daily due to regular stock price fluctuations.
#1. Bernard Arnault
In late 2022, the Chairman and CEO of LVMH Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton surpassed Elon Musk to become the richest person in the world. With 70 fashion and cosmetics brands, LVMH is the world’s largest luxury goods company. The most notable brands among its holdings are Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora. In January 2021, LVMH also acquired jeweler Tiffany & Co. for $15.8 billion. The estimated net worth of Bernard Arnault is around $211 billion.
#2. Elon Musk
Elon Musk is the second richest person in the world. He is the CEO of electric car company Tesla, rocket firm SpaceX, and social media company Twitter. In addition to the 23% stake he holds in Tesla, Elon Musk has pledged more than half his stock as collateral for loans. Tesla accounts for two-thirds of its total wealth. He bought Twitter for $ 44 billion in October 2022 and now he owns about 74% of the company. His net worth is approximately $202 billion.
In September 2021, Elon Musk will become the world’s richest person. His wealth peaked at a whopping $320 billion in November 2021. However, in December 2022, the drop in Tesla’s share price pushed down the value of its fortune.
#3. Jeff Bezos
The founder and chairman of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, is ranked third richest in the world. From his Seattle garage, he started his online store. He gave up his position as CEO in July 2021 to take the executive chairman position. He currently owns about 10% of the business. In addition, Jeff Bezos founded and provided funding for the aerospace firm Blue Origin, which produces rockets. On a rocket created by his own company, he also visited space. He also made investments in several businesses, such as Workday, a software company, and Airbnb. The estimated net worth of Jeff Bezos is $126 billion.
#4. Larry Ellison
The fourth-richest person in the world is Larry Ellison. In 1977, Oracle, a software company, was co-founded by Larry Ellison. He served as CEO till 2014. He is currently the company’s Chairman and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). About 35% of the company is under his ownership. His estimated net worth is $118.3 billion.
Oracle purchased Sun Microsystems in 2010, which was a significant acquisition. However, Oracle’s largest acquisition to date is the $28.3 billion purchase of Cerner, an electronic health records company.
Larry Ellison also invested in Teslaa and serves on its board. He served on Tesla’s board from December 2018 to August 2022. He still holds roughly 15 million shares of the electric car manufacturer.
#5. Bill Gates
The fifth-richest person in the world is Bill Gates. He co-founded the software firm Microsoft with his high school friend Paul Allen in 1975. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of the company for 25 years. Then, he continued to serve as chairman until 2014. However, the stepped off the board in 2020.
He currently owns investments in dozens of businesses, including Republic Services, a waste removal company, and Deere & Co., a company that makes agricultural equipment. He is also one of the biggest owners of farmland in the United States. Bill Gates has a projected net worth of $110 billion.
In the 1987 Forbes list, Bill Gates was first mentioned as a billionaire. Except for 2008 and the years 2010–2013, he held the title of the richest man in the world from 1995 to 2017. In 2018, Jeff Bezos overtook him as the richest man in the world.
#6. Warren Buffett
With an estimated net worth of $106.8 billion, Warren Buffet ranks sixth in terms of wealth in the world. He is also referred to as “the Oracle of Omaha.” Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns dozens of businesses including battery manufacturer Duracell, restaurant chain Dairy Queen, and insurer Geico.
In 2010, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates created the Giving Pledge, which invited billionaires to commit to donating at least half of their wealth to charitable organizations. Buffett has declared that he will give away 99% of his wealth. He has given the Gates Foundation and the foundations of his children a total of $51.5 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock so far. This makes him the world’s most generous and charitable billionaire.
#7. Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg is the seventh-richest person in the world. Michael Bloomberg founded the financial information and news organization Bloomberg LP in 1981 after being fired by the investment bank Salomon Brothers. He provided the initial capital and now owns 88% of the business, which brings in more than $12 billion annually. His net worth is estimated to be $94.5 billion.
From 2002 to 2013, Michael Bloomberg also served as mayor of New York City for 12 years. He declared his candidature for president in November 2019 and spent millions of dollars trying to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 before withdrawing due to dismal polling results.
Bloomberg has made a fortune in the financial industry and is devoting most of his wealth to philanthropic causes. These include climate change, education, and healthcare.
#8. Carlos Slim Helu
The Honorary Chairman of América Móvil, the largest mobile telecom company in Latin America, is the eighth-richest person in the world. His net worth is estimated to be $93.4 billion. The government-owned phone company Telmex was acquired by Slim and several other international telecom partners in 1990. Telmex consequently merged with América Móvil. He has investments in businesses involved in mining, consumer goods, real estate, and construction in Mexico.
Additionally, he formerly owned 17% of The New York Times but sold his stock in the entity. Furthermore, he owns sizable stakes in the banking and insurance firm Grupo Financiero as well as the holding company Grupo Carso. From 2010 to 2013, Carlos Slim surpassed Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to claim the title of the richest man in the world.
#9. Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is the ninth wealthiest person in the world. His estimated net worth is $91 billion. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer served as the organization’s CEO from 2000 to 2014. After leaving Stanford’s MBA program, he started working at Microsoft as employee number 30 and steadily rose through the ranks.
Since 2014, he has boosted his philanthropy and contributed more than $2 billion to a donor-advised fund to assist Americans in escaping poverty. He invested $59 million in Social Solutions 2018, a company that develops software for nonprofits and governmental organizations.
#10. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
The world’s tenth richest person is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the granddaughter of L’Oreal’s founder. Her estimated net worth is $89.4 billion. Bettencourt Meyers was elected to the board of directors of L’Oreal in 1997 and was later named chairperson of the family-owned holding company. She continues to serve on both boards. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers holds about 33% of the company’s shares. She is also the president of the charitable foundation run by her family, which supports advancement in science and the arts in France.
Bottom Line
Many of the people on this list, though, did not have privileged upbringings. To build the enormous fortunes they now rule over, they had to struggle and overcome challenges. Hope you find all of the information you need to know about the world’s richest people. Thanks for reading!
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