Top 10 Richest People In The World

The richest people in the world have played a significant part in shaping the global economy and society. Whether it is e-commerce, technology, or fashion, entrepreneurs from diverse industries have made a fortune with their skills and leadership. So here are the top 10 richest people in the world:

10. Warren Buffett - $129.7 Billion

At 93 years old, serial investor Warren Buffett’s net worth is estimated to be around $129.7 billion, as per Forbes. The majority of Buffett's wealth comes from Berkshire Hathaway, a multinational conglomerate holding company. Buffett, through Berkshire Hathaway, owns a variety of businesses that generate substantial income, including wholly owned subsidiaries such as GEICO, BNSF Railway, and Dairy Queen, and large minority stakes in prominent companies like Coca-Cola, Apple, and American Express worth around $25.4, $135.4 billion, and $37.8 billion, respectively. As for his salary, Buffett has been claiming a modest annual salary of $100,000 for the past 35 years. 

9. Bill Gates - $135.2 Billion

Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has a net worth of around $135.2 billion as of 2024. One of the most consistent names on the list, Gates has been on Forbes's richest list a record 16 times. The tech entrepreneur's majority of wealth comes from Microsoft, which has a current market cap of $3.465 trillion. To further diversify his investments, Gates, through his private investment firm named Cascade Investment, owns substantial holdings in companies such as Berkshire Hathaway, Walmart, and Canadian National Railway. As for salary, Bill Gates does not draw an official salary from Microsoft anymore but earns it from annual dividends worth around $500 million annually. 

8. Steve Ballmer - $135.6 Billion

Former CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, has a net worth of approximately $135.6 billion as of now. Ballmer’s majority of the wealth stems from his long career at Microsoft and his strategic investments. After stepping down from the CEO position in 2014, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion, whose value is now estimated to be around $4 billion. Additionally, Balmer also earns well from his stock holdings in Microsoft, which have recently gone up, and also earns around $1 billion from dividends annually.

7. Sergey Brin - $150.1 Billion

Co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin has an estimated net worth of around $150.1 billion. Brin's majority of wealth stems from his 2.8% stake in Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., which currently has a market cap of $2.20 trillion. Brin, who claimed a salary of only $1 throughout his career with Google, has made a bunch of substantial investments, including Tesla, 23andMe, and, very recently, a tech airship project, which contribute fairly well to his wealth. Moreover, Brin is also expected to receive $291 million from Alphabet as dividends this year. 

6. Larry Page - $156.9 Billion

Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, has an estimated net worth of $156.9 billion. Much like Sergey Brin, Page’s wealth also comes from Google and its parent company, Alphabet. Similarly, Brin also owns a stake of approximately 3.1% in Alphabet Inc. and withdrew a salary of only $1 until he stepped down from his role in 2019. Page has also invested in ventures like Calico, Nest, Kitty Hawk, and Opener to further diversify his portfolio. Also, his net worth saw a significant increase due to a 15% rise in Alphabet's share price in May 2023. Much like Brin, Page is also expected to receive Alphabet dividends worth around $311 million this year. 

5. Larry Ellison - $179.3 Billion

Co-founder, chairman, and chief technology officer of Oracle Corporation, Larry Ellison has a net worth of approximately $179.3 billion as of July 2024. Ellison’s stake in Oracle forms the backbone of his wealth. Ellison was also one of the highest-paid executives globally, with a total compensation reaching $1.84 billion over a decade, making him the best-paid executive at the time. Additionally, Ellison has a diversified portfolio with ventures like Salesforce, NetSuite, and Astex Pharmaceuticals to further contribute to his wealth. As for his salary, Ellison drew a symbolic $1 as his official salary while receiving close to $138 million and $7 million as compensation in 2022 and 2023, respectively. 

4. Mark Zuckerberg - $189.1 Billion

Best known as the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Zuckerberg has been a consistent name amongst the richest people in the world. With a reported net worth of $189.1 billion, Zuckerberg’s majority of wealth comes from the social media platform "Facebook,” which he founded in 2004 and currently owns around 13% of the company’s stock. Facebook, which later went on to be named "Meta,” has acquired successful social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp for $1 billion and $19 billion, respectively. As for salary, Zuckerberg, much like Google co-founders, also claims a symbolic salary of $1 per annum. However, that does not stop Zuckerberg from earning close to $24 million as compensation. He is also set to earn around $700 million in dividends from Meta in 2024. 

3. Bernard Arnault & family - $196.0 Billion

With an estimated net worth of $196 billion as of 2024, the Bernard Arnault & family is considered to be one of the wealthiest families in the world. Arnault and family generate most of their wealth through their brands, which include high-end brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Sephora. Over the years, Arnault has significantly increased his net worth by acquiring luxury brands, which include Tiffany & Co., for nearly $16 billion, making it the largest luxury brand acquisition ever. 

2. Jeff Bezos - $216.5 Billion

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, currently has a net worth of $216.5 billion. The majority of Bezos’ wealth comes from his substantial ownership stake in Amazon, where he holds around 11.5% of the company's shares. Adding further to his net worth, Bezos has also founded other companies, one of which includes Blue Origin, a private aerospace manufacturer. To diversify his portfolio, Bezos acquired The Washington Post for $250 million through his private investment company, Nash Holdings LLC. While Bezos claims a modest salary of around $85,000 annually, he also made close to $7.9 million every hour in 2023. 

1. Elon Musk - $251.6 Billion

As of 2024, the richest person on earth is Elon Musk, with a whopping net worth of $251.6 billion. CEO of electric car manufacturer Tesla, Elon Musk, has co-founded many companies, including SpaceX and Boring Company, that contribute to his wealth. The majority of Musk’s wealth comes from Tesla, which he owns about 12% of, and SpaceX, which had an evaluation of nearly $180 billion. As for salary, Musk has not drawn an official salary since 2019, but he is expected to receive a remuneration package worth $56 billion after finally being approved by Tesla shareholders. Musk also has multiple ventures, which include the acquisition of Twitter, now known as X, and Neuralink.