Meet the Titans: The World's Top 10 Richest People in 2024
Welcome to AllAroundWorlds.com! In this article, we delve into the lives and fortunes of the top 10 richest people in the world for 2024. Discover the fascinating journeys of Bernard Arnault, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and other financial titans who have shaped industries ranging from luxury goods and technology to space exploration and retail. You'll gain insights into their net worth, major assets, and the key decisions that propelled them to the pinnacle of global wealth. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurial inspiration or curious about the world's wealthiest individuals, this comprehensive guide has all the details you need. Join us as we explore the stories behind these extraordinary fortunes.
Top 10 Richest People in the World 2024
1. Bernard Arnault
2. Elon Musk
3. Jeff Bezos
4. Mark Zuckerberg
5. Larry Page
6. Bill Gates
7. Sergey Brin
8. Steve Ballmer
9. Warren Buffett
10. Larry Ellison
Bernard Arnault
Age: 75
Residence: France
CEO and Chair: LVMH (LVMUY)
Net Worth: $207 billion
LVMH Ownership Stake: 48% ($192 billion)
Other Assets: $15.8 billion in cash
Bernard Arnault, a French national, leads LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate. LVMH's portfolio includes prestigious brands like Louis Vuitton, Hennessey, Marc Jacobs, and Sephora.
Arnault's wealth primarily stems from his substantial ownership in LVMH, held through entities associated with his investment firm, Financiere Agache. Arnault began his career in his father's construction company, Ferret-Savinel, and transitioned it into a real estate business called Férinel Inc. He led Férinel for six years before acquiring and restructuring the luxury goods company Financière Agache in 1984, retaining only Christian Dior and Le Bon Marché. He invested in LVMH in 1987 and became the majority shareholder, chairman, and CEO by 1989.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, born in South Africa, is the richest person in the world. After attending university in Canada, Musk transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, earning degrees in physics and economics. He dropped out of a graduate program at Stanford to launch Zip2, which he sold to fund X.com, eventually becoming PayPal.
Musk joined Tesla in 2004 as a major funder and became CEO, leading the company to produce electric vehicles and energy storage solutions. He also heads SpaceX, which develops space launch rockets. Tesla joined the S&P 500 in 2020, and Musk became the world's richest person in January 2021.
In 2022, Musk acquired X (formerly Twitter) for $44 billion. Initially attempting to back out, he eventually completed the buyout, giving him a 79% stake.
Age: 52
Residence: United States
Co-founder and CEO: Tesla
Net Worth: $203 billion
Tesla Ownership Stake: 13% ($73.2 billion)
X Ownership Stake: 79% ($7.09 billion)
Other Assets: SpaceX ($71.2 billion), The Boring Company ($3.33 billion), Neuralink ($2.07 billion), xAI ($13.3 billion)
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 after leaving D.E. Shaw. Initially an online bookstore, Amazon diversified into a retail giant, acquiring Whole Foods and entering the pharmacy business in 2017. Bezos owned 16% of Amazon before transferring 4% to his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, in their divorce.
Amazon's stock surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Bezos stepped down as CEO in 2021 to become executive chair. Bezos has invested in Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and the Long Now project.
In 2021, Bezos' wealth peaked at $213 billion, coinciding with Blue Origin's first crewed flight. In 2023, he purchased the superyacht Koru for $500 million.
Age: 60
Residence: United States
Founder and Executive Chair: Amazon (AMZN)
Net Worth: $199 billion
Amazon Ownership Stake: 9% ($165 billion)
Other Assets: Blue Origin ($15 billion), The Washington Post ($250 million), Koru ($500 million), $18.1 billion in cash
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook (now Meta) while at Harvard University in 2004. He dropped out to focus on Facebook, which became the world's largest social networking site. Meta also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and Workplace.
Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2015 to address societal issues like education, criminal justice reform, immigration, housing affordability, and disease eradication.
Age: 40
Residence: United States
CEO and Chair: Meta Platforms (META)
Net Worth: $166 billion
Meta Ownership Stake: 13% ($161 billion)
Other Assets: $4.88 billion in cash
Larry Page
Larry Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998 while at Stanford. Google dominates global search with over 92% market share. Page served as CEO until 2001 and again from 2011 to 2019. Google acquired YouTube in 2006 and Android in 2005.
Google reorganized as Alphabet in 2015. Page invested in Planetary Resources and flying car companies Kitty Hawk and Opener. Despite Kitty Hawk ceasing operations in 2022, Page remains an influential tech entrepreneur.
Age: 51
Residence: United States
Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet (GOOG)
Net Worth: $153 billion
Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($135 billion)
Other Assets: $18.4 billion in cash
Bill Gates
Bill Gates founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975 while at Harvard. Microsoft became the largest software company, offering personal computers, email services, and gaming systems. Gates stepped down as CEO in 2000 and left the board in 2020.
Most of Gates' wealth is through Cascade Investment LLC. Gates has given away $41 billion to philanthropy, mainly through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He co-founded the Giving Pledge with Warren Buffett in 2010.
Age: 68
Residence: United States
Co-founder: Microsoft (MSFT)
Net Worth: $152 billion
Cascade Ownership Stake: 100% ($72.8 billion)
Microsoft Ownership Stake: 1% ($26.8 billion)
Other Assets: Various investments
Sergey Brin
Sergey Brin co-founded Google with Larry Page in 1998. He served as president of technology and later at Alphabet. Google offers a suite of online tools and devices, including Pixel smartphones and Nest smart home products.
Brin has donated millions to Parkinson's disease research, collaborating with The Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Age: 50
Residence: United States
Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet (GOOG)
Net Worth: $145 billion
Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($127.1 billion)
Other Assets: $17.9 billion in cash
Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 and succeeded Bill Gates as CEO in 2000, serving until 2014. He oversaw the acquisition of Skype and became the largest individual shareholder of Microsoft.
Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion in 2014 and has invested in sports and entertainment properties.
Age: 68
Residence: United States
Owner: Los Angeles Clippers
Net Worth: $144 billion
Microsoft Ownership Stake: 4% ($133 billion)
Other Assets: Los Angeles Clippers ($4.56 billion), The Forum ($400 million), Intuit Dome ($2 billion), $4.18 billion in cash
Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett, known as the Oracle of Omaha, filed his first tax return at 14. He became the majority shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, expanding it into insurance and investments.
Buffett is a value investor with a portfolio including insurance, energy, railroads, and consumer products. He is a noted philanthropist, giving $41 billion between 2006 and 2020 and co-founding the Giving Pledge.
Age: 93
Residence: United States
CEO: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
Net Worth: $137 billion
Berkshire Hathaway Ownership Stake: 15% ($136 billion)
Other Assets: $1.45 billion in cash
Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison founded Oracle in 1977, pioneering commercial relational database software. Oracle is now the second-largest software company, offering cloud computing, Java, Linux, and the Oracle Exadata platform.
Ellison has focused on medical research philanthropy, donating $200 million to USC for cancer research. He has also backed the Oracle Team USA sailing team, winning the America's Cup in 2010 and 2013.
Age: 79
Residence: United States
Co-founder, Chair, and CTO: Oracle (ORCL)
Net Worth: $132 billion
Oracle Ownership Stake: 42% ($98.3 billion)
Other Assets: Tesla equity ($8.02 billion), $25.3 billion in cash
World's Richest Man in 2024
As of June 27, 2024, Bernard Arnault is the world's richest man, leading LVMH.
Richest Woman in the World
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, with a net worth of $99.6 billion from her L'Oréal holdings, is the richest woman in the world as of June 27, 2024.
The Bottom Line
To join the ranks of the richest billionaires, one might become a tech innovator or a luxury retail mogul. While wealth can be inherited, the greatest fortunes often start as innovative ideas executed with creativity, drive, and connections.
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