As we enter 2024, the landscape of global wealth continues to evolve, with familiar names dominating the upper echelons of the world’s richest individuals.
Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, this article explores the lives, careers, and fortunes of the top 10 wealthiest people on the planet, offering insights into how they built their empires and the impact they’ve had on various industries.
1. Elon Musk – Net Worth: $242.6 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Elon Musk, the South African-born entrepreneur, has maintained his position as the world’s richest person in 2024. His net worth of $242.6 billion is largely derived from his stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, and his acquisition of Twitter (now X).
Musk’s journey began in Pretoria, South Africa, where he was born in 1971. Showing an early aptitude for technology, he taught himself computer programming at the age of 10. After moving to Canada and then the United States for his education, Musk co-founded Zip2, an online city guide, which was sold to Compaq for nearly $300 million in 1999.
His next venture, X.com, eventually became PayPal, which eBay acquired for $1.5 billion in 2002. This success provided Musk with the capital to pursue his more ambitious projects. In 2004, he invested in and became chairman of Tesla, an electric vehicle company. He later took over as CEO and has been instrumental in Tesla’s growth into a major player in the automotive industry.
SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002, has revolutionized space travel with its reusable rockets and has ambitious plans for Mars colonization. In 2022, Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion, renaming it X and implementing significant changes to the platform.
Musk’s other ventures include Neuralink, which is developing brain-computer interfaces, and The Boring Company, which aims to alleviate urban congestion through underground tunnels. Despite controversies and legal challenges, Musk’s innovative spirit and business acumen have kept him at the forefront of technological advancement and wealth creation.
2. Jeff Bezos – Net Worth: $193.3 billion
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, holds the second spot on the list with a net worth of $193.3 billion. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1964, Bezos showed early signs of mechanical aptitude and entrepreneurial spirit.
After graduating from Princeton University with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, Bezos worked on Wall Street. In 1994, he founded Amazon as an online bookstore, operating from his garage in Seattle. Under his leadership, Amazon expanded rapidly, diversifying into various product categories and becoming the world’s largest e-commerce company.
Bezos’ vision extended beyond retail. Amazon Web Services (AWS), launched in 2006, has become a dominant force in cloud computing. The company has also made significant strides in artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital streaming.
In addition to Amazon, Bezos owns The Washington Post, which he acquired in 2013 for $250 million. He also founded Blue Origin, a space exploration company, with the goal of making space travel more accessible and affordable.
Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021 but remains executive chairman. He has since focused more on his philanthropic efforts, including the Bezos Earth Fund, which commits $10 billion to combat climate change.
3. Bernard Arnault & family – Net Worth: $192 billion
Bernard Arnault, the French business magnate, and his family occupy the third position with a net worth of $192 billion. Arnault is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods company.
Born in Roubaix, France, in 1949, Arnault began his career in his father’s construction company. In 1984, he acquired the textile group Boussac Saint-Frères, which owned Christian Dior, marking his entry into the luxury goods sector.
Arnault’s business acumen came to the fore in 1987 when he created LVMH by merging Louis Vuitton with Moët Hennessy. Under his leadership, LVMH has grown to encompass over 75 prestigious brands across various sectors, including fashion, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, and watches and jewelry.
Known for his strategic acquisitions and ability to revitalize heritage brands, Arnault has earned the nickname “The Wolf in Cashmere.” His success has made LVMH the largest company by market capitalization in the Eurozone.
Arnault is also known for his art collection and philanthropic efforts, particularly in the arts. He has played a significant role in the restoration of cultural landmarks in Paris and supports various educational and scientific research initiatives.
4. Larry Ellison – Net Worth: $153 billion
Larry Ellison, co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation, holds the fourth position with a net worth of $153 billion. Born in New York City in 1944 and adopted as an infant, Ellison’s early life was marked by academic struggles and a search for purpose.
After dropping out of the University of Chicago, Ellison moved to California and worked various programming jobs. In 1977, he co-founded Software Development Laboratories, which later became Oracle Corporation, named after its flagship product, the Oracle Database.
Under Ellison’s leadership, Oracle grew to become one of the largest and most influential software companies in the world, specializing in database management systems. Known for his aggressive business tactics and flamboyant lifestyle, Ellison has been a controversial figure in Silicon Valley.
Beyond Oracle, Ellison has made significant investments in real estate, including purchasing 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai. He is also known for his passion for yachting and has sponsored America’s Cup teams.
In recent years, Ellison has stepped back from day-to-day operations at Oracle but remains active in strategic decisions. He has also increased his philanthropic efforts, particularly in medical research and education.
5. Mark Zuckerberg – Net Worth: $151.2 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), ranks fifth with a net worth of $151.2 billion. Born in White Plains, New York, in 1984, Zuckerberg showed an early interest in computer programming.
While studying at Harvard University, Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004 as a social networking platform for college students. The site’s popularity exploded, and Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus on growing the company.
Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, Facebook expanded globally and acquired other social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. In 2021, the company rebranded as Meta, signaling a shift towards virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Zuckerberg’s tenure has been marked by both tremendous success and significant controversies, including issues related to user privacy, data breaches, and the platform’s impact on democracy and mental health.
Despite these challenges, Zuckerberg has maintained his position as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. He and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have pledged to give away 99% of their Facebook shares over their lifetimes through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, focusing on areas such as health, education, and scientific research.
6. Larry Page – Net Worth: $135.4 billion
Larry Page, co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company Alphabet, holds the sixth position with a net worth of $135.4 billion. Born in East Lansing, Michigan, in 1973, Page showed an early interest in computers, inspired by his father’s computer science professor background.
Page met Sergey Brin while pursuing his Ph.D. at Stanford University. Together, they developed a search engine that ranked web pages based on their relevance and importance. This project evolved into Google, which they founded in 1998.
As CEO of Google, and later Alphabet, Page oversaw the company’s expansion beyond search into areas such as mobile operating systems (Android), video sharing (YouTube), and innovative technologies like self-driving cars (Waymo). Known for his focus on technological innovation and “moonshot” projects, Page has been a driving force behind Google’s ambitious initiatives.
In 2019, Page stepped down as CEO of Alphabet but remains a board member and controlling shareholder. He has invested in flying car startups and has shown interest in sustainable energy and radical life extension technologies.
7. Warren Buffett – Net Worth: $131 billion
Warren Buffett’s net worth is around $131 billion. Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is seventh on the richest list. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1930, Buffett displayed an aptitude for business and investing from a young age.
Buffett studied under Benjamin Graham at Columbia University, developing his value investing philosophy. In 1965, he took control of Berkshire Hathaway, a failing textile company, and transformed it into a diversified holding company.
Under Buffett’s leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has become one of the world’s largest and most successful conglomerates, with investments in a wide range of industries. Buffett’s investment strategy, focusing on undervalued companies with strong fundamentals, has earned him a reputation as one of the greatest investors of all time.
Known for his frugal lifestyle despite his immense wealth, Buffett has pledged to give away more than 99% of his fortune to philanthropic causes. He co-founded The Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates, encouraging other billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to charity.
8. Sergey Brin – Net Worth: $129.9 billion
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google and former president of Alphabet, ranks eighth with a net worth of $129.9 billion. Born in Moscow in 1973, Brin immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six.
Brin met Larry Page at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science. Their collaboration led to the development of Google’s search engine and the founding of the company in 1998.
As Google’s president of technology, and later as president of Alphabet, Brin played a crucial role in the company’s technological innovations. He has been particularly interested in developing Google Glass and other wearable technology.
Like Page, Brin stepped down from his executive role at Alphabet in 2019 but remains a board member and controlling shareholder. He has invested in various projects, including airship development and synthetic meat research.
9. Bill Gates – Net Worth: $127 billion
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, holds the ninth position with a net worth of $127 billion. Born in Seattle, Washington, in 1955, Gates developed an interest in computer programming as a teenager.
Gates founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, developing software for the emerging personal computer market. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the world’s largest PC software company, with products like MS-DOS and Windows dominating the market.
As Microsoft’s CEO until 2000, and chairman until 2014, Gates played a pivotal role in shaping the modern computing landscape. He has since focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, addressing global issues in health, education, and poverty reduction.
Gates has pledged to give away the majority of his wealth and has been actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives, including efforts to eradicate polio and malaria. He has also been a vocal advocate for climate change action and pandemic preparedness.
10. Steve Ballmer – Net Worth: $117.1 billion
Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, rounds out the top 10 with a net worth of $117.1 billion. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1956, Ballmer met Bill Gates at Harvard University.
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee and first business manager. He held various positions within the company before succeeding Gates as CEO in 2000. During his tenure, Microsoft’s annual revenue surged from $23 billion to $77 billion, and the company expanded into new markets like Xbox gaming systems and Bing search engine.
After retiring from Microsoft in 2014, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team for $2 billion. He has since focused on philanthropic efforts through the Ballmer Group, which he founded with his wife Connie, focusing on improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States.
Ballmer is known for his energetic personality and has become a popular figure in the sports world as the enthusiastic owner of the Clippers. He has also funded USAFacts, a non-profit organization aimed at making government data more accessible and understandable to the American public.
