Elon Musk Tops the List: Meet the World’s Wealthiest Individuals

Elon Musk Tops the List: Meet the World’s Wealthiest Individuals

Forbes has once again unveiled its list of the world’s wealthiest individuals, and for the first time, Elon Musk has claimed the top spot. Musk, who recently became Twitter’s largest shareholder, is joined in the top three by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Bernard Arnault, the president of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. Notably, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram), is ranked in the second tier of the top ten.

Elon Musk: The Visionary Behind Electric Cars and Rockets

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of SpaceX, has a net worth of $219 billion. Recently, he became Twitter’s largest shareholder, acquiring 9.2% of the company’s stock for $2.89 billion and securing a seat on its board of directors. Following the announcement of this deal, Twitter’s stock surged by 26%, marking the most significant single-day increase in four years.

Born and raised in South Africa, Musk moved to Canada at the age of 17 and later to the United States during his college years.

Jeff Bezos: The Mastermind Behind Amazon

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994, initially operating the company from his garage. Today, his net worth stands at $171 billion. During the pandemic, as online shopping became the norm, Amazon thrived, with revenues increasing by 38% to $380 million. However, the company faced criticism for its treatment of warehouse workers during this period.

Bezos also owns The Washington Post and Blue Origin, an aerospace company developing rockets for commercial use.

Bernard Arnault: The Taste Maker of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy

Bernard Arnault, a trendsetter in the fashion industry, oversees an empire of 70 brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sephora. His net worth is $158 billion. In January 2021, his company completed a $15.8 billion acquisition of Tiffany & Co., the largest purchase of a luxury brand in history.

Arnault began his career by acquiring Christian Dior in 1985. Four of his five children are employed within his corporation.

Bill Gates: The Philanthropist and Microsoft Co-founder

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has shifted his focus to philanthropy and investments in zero-carbon energy. With a net worth of $129 billion, he is also one of the largest owners of farmland in the United States. In May 2021, Bill and his wife Melinda announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage.

Warren Buffett: The Investment Guru

Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time. He purchased his first stocks at the age of 11 and filed his first tax return at 13. His current net worth is $118 billion. Buffett has pledged to donate more than 99% of his wealth to charity and has already given away over $45 billion.

Larry Page: The Google Co-founder and Space Explorer

Larry Page holds a controlling stake in Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. He is also the founding investor of Planetary Resources, a company focused on space exploration. Additionally, Page funds startups like Kitty Hawk and Opener, which are developing flying cars.

Sergey Brin: The Google Co-founder and Tech Enthusiast

Sergey Brin, a controlling shareholder and board member of Google, prefers to stay out of the public eye. He spends his time in Alphabet’s research lab, Alphabet X, and is currently funding a high-tech airship project.

Larry Ellison: The Oracle Leader

Larry Ellison, the co-founder of software giant Oracle, owns approximately 35% of the company. He served as the CEO for 37 years. In 2020, Ellison permanently relocated to the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which he purchased for $300 million in 2012.

Steve Ballmer: The Former Microsoft CEO and Sports Team Owner

Steve Ballmer led Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. He later purchased the NBA team Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. In 2018, Ballmer invested $59 million in Social Solutions, a company that develops software for nonprofits and government agencies. He has also donated over $2 billion to a charity aimed at helping Americans escape poverty.

Mukesh Ambani: The Indian Business Tycoon

Mukesh Ambani heads Reliance Industries, a company with interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications, and retail. The company was founded by Mukesh’s father as a small textile business. For further insights, you can refer to the detailed analysis on Forbes.