In today’s ambitious and entrepreneurial society, there are some incredibly rich and successful people. These leaders are well-known for their innovative thinking and have reached the highest levels of success, making them among the wealthiest people globally. It’s a significant accomplishment.

To put it in perspective, the combined wealth of the top 10 richest people is now greater than the economies of many countries. Most of their wealth comes from the technology, finance, and retail industries. The growing gap in wealth between them and those who are less fortunate is a big global concern.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top 10 richest individuals in the world. We’ll talk about their incredible achievements, business skills, and how they impact the global economy. This ranking is based on information from Forbes.

Top 10 Richest People in the World

Get to Know the Top 10 Richest People in the World

1. Elon Musk

• Age: 52
• Location: Austin, Texas
• Nationality: United States

Elon Musk holds the title of being the wealthiest individual globally. He serves as the CEO of several prominent companies, including Tesla, a leading electric car manufacturer, and SpaceX, a space exploration company. Currently, he possesses a 23 percent ownership stake in Tesla, with a substantial portion of his wealth, roughly two-thirds of it, closely linked to Tesla’s success. In October 2022, Musk made headlines by acquiring Twitter for a staggering $44 billion.

Musk played a pivotal role in taking Tesla public through its initial public offering in 2010. The company witnessed remarkable growth in market capitalization during the years 2020 and 2021, propelling Musk into the ranks of the world’s top 10 wealthiest individuals by September 2021. At its zenith in November 2021, Musk’s wealth soared to an astonishing $320 billion.

2. Bernard Arnault & Family

• Age: 74
• Location: Paris
• Nationality: France

Bernard Arnault, the world’s second-wealthiest individual, serves as the CEO and chairman of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the largest luxury goods conglomerate globally, comprising approximately 70 prestigious fashion and cosmetics brands. Some notable names within its extensive portfolio include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora. In January 2021, LVMH completed a remarkable acquisition by purchasing jeweler Tiffany & Co. for a staggering $15.8 billion.

Arnault’s five children are actively involved in various sectors under the expansive LVMH umbrella. In January 2023, he appointed his daughter Delphine as the leader of Dior, which stands as the conglomerate’s second-largest brand.

3. Jeff Bezos

• Age: 59
• Location: Medina, Washington
• Nationality: United States

Jeff Bezos, In July 2021 made the decision to step down from his position as CEO of the e-commerce giant Amazon, although he retained his role as chairman. In the same month, he embarked on a space journey aboard a rocket crafted by Blue Origin, a private space exploration venture that he founded and generously financed with billions of dollars.

4. Larry Ellison

• Age: 79
• Location: Lanai, Hawaii
• Nationality: United States

Larry Ellison played a pivotal role in the founding of the software company Oracle back in 1977, and he served as its CEO until 2014. Presently, he holds the positions of chairman and Chief Technology Officer at the company.

Ellison gained significant attention in 2012 when he purchased the Hawaiian island of Lanai for a staggering $300 million. Additionally, he explored various investments, including a substantial share in Tesla, where he served on the board of directors from 2018 until 2022.

5. Warren Buffett

• Age: 93
• Location: Omaha, Nebraska
• Nationality: United States

Warren Buffett, widely known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is renowned as one of history’s most accomplished investors. He leads Berkshire Hathaway, an investment conglomerate with a diverse portfolio that includes numerous companies, such as insurance provider Geico, battery manufacturer Duracell, and restaurant chain Dairy Queen.

In 2010, Buffett, along with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, founded the Giving Pledge initiative, which encourages billionaires to commit to donating at least 50 percent of their wealth to charitable organizations. Demonstrating his unwavering dedication to philanthropy, Buffett has expressed his intention to give away 99 percent of his fortune.

6. Larry Page

• Age: 50
• Location: Palo Alto, California
• Nationality: United States

Larry Page, alongside his fellow Stanford PhD student Sergey Brin, established Google in 1998. In the early years, Page served as CEO until 2001, and later, he returned to the role from 2011 to 2015. At present, he holds a position on the board of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and wields significant influence over the company as a major shareholder.

Furthermore, Page played a pivotal role as a founding investor in Planetary Resources, a company dedicated to space exploration.

7. Bill Gates

• Age: 67
• Location: Medina, Washington
• Nationality: United States

Bill Gates earned his first billionaire recognition from Forbes in 1987. From 1995 to 2017, he consistently held the title of the world’s wealthiest individual, with occasional interruptions in 2008 and from 2010 to 2013.

In 2021, Gates and Melinda French Gates finalized their divorce, with Melinda receiving a minimum of $6 billion worth of stocks as part of the settlement. Forbes’ estimates show that Gates’ fortune saw a modest increase of around $500 million from May 1 to June 1, 2023, which allowed him to move up one spot in the rankings, securing the fifth position.

8. Sergey Brin

• Age: 50
• Location: Los Altos, California
• Nationality: United States

Sergey Brin, in partnership with his fellow Stanford PhD peer Larry Page, played a crucial role in the establishment of the Google search engine in 1998.

Originally hailing from Russia, Brin initially held the role of Technology President at Google, later transitioning to oversee special projects, including the development of Google Glass, a wearable device featuring voice-activated “smart glasses.” Presently, Brin holds a position on the board of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and maintains a substantial controlling interest in the company.

9. Mark Zuckerberg

• Age: 39
• Location: Palo Alto, California
• Nationality: United States

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, embarked on his journey by launching the flagship social media platform, Facebook, in 2004, when he was a mere 19 years old. At the time, he was a student at Harvard University, majoring in computer science and psychology.

The initial purpose of Facebook was to help identify students on campus by matching their names with their photos. By 2006, Facebook had opened its doors to anyone aged 13 or older with a valid email address.

In May 2012, Zuckerberg took Facebook public, and by December 2016, he had secured the 10th position on Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful People. Presently, he maintains ownership of approximately 13 percent of the company’s stock.

Beyond his role in technology, the 39-year-old entrepreneur is a husband to Priscilla Chan and a father to three daughters. Together with his wife, he has committed $3 billion towards the ambitious goal of eradicating, curing, or effectively managing all diseases by the year 2100.

10. Steve Ballmer

• Age: 67
• Location: Hunts Point, Washington
• Nationality: United States

A fellow Harvard University classmate of Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, assumed the position of CEO at Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. His association with Microsoft commenced in 1980 when he joined as the company’s 30th employee, a decision he made after leaving the MBA program at Stanford University.

In the same year that Ballmer retired from his role at Microsoft, he made waves by acquiring the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for an astounding $2 billion, establishing a new record for the highest price ever paid for an NBA team at that time.

Summary

In today’s entrepreneurial society, a select group of innovative leaders has amassed immense wealth, surpassing the GDP of many nations. This article introduced the top 10 wealthiest individuals, from Elon Musk’s groundbreaking ventures to Warren Buffett’s philanthropic efforts, shaping the global economy and addressing wealth disparities.