The World’s Top 10 Richest in 2024

As a real estate agent, I’ve always been fascinated by the world’s wealthiest individuals. There’s something captivating about tracking the fortunes of those who’ve reached the pinnacle of financial success. It’s not just about the numbers – though those are certainly impressive – but also about the stories behind their wealth. How did they build their empires? What drives them? And, of course, I can’t help but wonder about their real estate portfolios!

2024 has brought some interesting shifts in the landscape of global wealth. The tech sector continues to dominate, but we’re seeing some intriguing diversification at the top. From electric cars to e-commerce, social media to software, and even luxury goods, the paths to extreme wealth are varied and ever-evolving.

Based on data from the Real-Time Billionaires List, we’ll dive into the lives and fortunes of the top 10 richest people in the world as of 2024. We’ll explore not just their net worth, but also the sources of their wealth, their business acumen, and some fascinating tidbits about their lives. 

1. Elon Musk – $266.3 billion

Elon Musk, born in 1971 in South Africa, is currently the world’s wealthiest person with an estimated net worth of $266.3 billion. Musk is a serial entrepreneur and innovator, best known for co-founding PayPal, founding SpaceX, and leading Tesla as CEO.

Musk’s wealth primarily stems from his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX. He owns about 13% of Tesla, which accounts for a significant portion of his net worth. His other ventures include Neuralink, The Boring Company, and X (formerly Twitter), which he acquired in 2022 for $44 billion.

Known for his ambitious goals, Musk aims to revolutionize transportation both on Earth and in space. His companies are at the forefront of electric vehicles, renewable energy, and space exploration. Despite his success, Musk has been a controversial figure, often making headlines for his outspoken nature and unconventional business practices.

2. Jeff Bezos – $211.3 billion

According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Jeff Bezos, born in 1964 in New Mexico, is the founder of Amazon and has a net worth of approximately $211.3 billion. Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, which has since grown into the world’s largest e-commerce platform and a leader in cloud computing services.

Bezos owns about 9% of Amazon, which forms the bulk of his wealth. He stepped down as CEO in 2021 but remains executive chairman. Beyond Amazon, Bezos owns The Washington Post and Blue Origin, a space exploration company.

Known for his long-term thinking and customer-centric approach, Bezos has transformed multiple industries. He’s also become increasingly involved in philanthropy, pledging billions to combat climate change and support various social causes.

3. Larry Ellison – $202.8 billion

Larry Ellison, born in 1944 in New York City, is the co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation. His net worth is estimated at $202.8 billion.

Ellison founded Oracle in 1977, growing it into one of the largest software companies in the world. He owns about 40% of Oracle, which accounts for a significant portion of his wealth. Ellison also has a substantial stake in Tesla and owns the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

Known for his lavish lifestyle and competitive nature, Ellison has interests beyond technology, including yacht racing and tennis. He’s also increased his philanthropic efforts in recent years, signing the Giving Pledge and committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.

4. Mark Zuckerberg – $194.9 billion

Mark Zuckerberg, born in 1984, is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). His net worth has skyrocketed to $194.9 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world.

Zuckerberg’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Meta, which he co-founded in 2004 while at Harvard University. Under his leadership, Meta has grown into a tech giant, encompassing popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

Despite his immense wealth, Zuckerberg is known for living relatively modestly. He pledged to give away 99% of his Meta shares over his lifetime through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which he founded with his wife Priscilla Chan.

5. Bernard Arnault & family – $175.2 billion

Bernard Arnault, born in 1949, is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods company. His net worth is estimated at $175.2 billion.

Arnault’s fortune stems from his 48% stake in LVMH, which owns around 75 luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hennessy. He began his career working for his father’s construction company before moving into the luxury goods sector in the 1980s.

Known for his strategic acquisitions and business acumen, Arnault has transformed LVMH into a global powerhouse. He is also an art collector and owns the yacht Symphony.

6. Warren Buffett – $143.4 billion

Warren Buffett, born in 1930, is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and one of the most successful investors in history. His net worth is estimated at $143.4 billion.

Buffett’s wealth comes primarily from his ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that owns a diverse portfolio of businesses and investments. He began investing at age 11 and filed his first tax return at 13.

Despite his enormous wealth, Buffett is famous for his frugal lifestyle. He still lives in the same house he bought in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1958 for $31,500. Buffett is also known for his philanthropy, having pledged to give away 99% of his wealth to charitable causes.

7. Bill Gates – $138.9 billion

Bill Gates, born in 1955, is the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most influential figures in the technology industry. His net worth is estimated at $138.9 billion.

Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, which grew to become the world’s largest personal computer software company. Under his leadership, Microsoft developed the Windows operating system, which revolutionized personal computing.

In 2000, Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft to focus on philanthropy. He and his then-wife Melinda established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has become the world’s largest private foundation. The foundation focuses on global health, education, and poverty reduction.

Despite his philanthropic efforts, which have seen him donate billions of dollars, Gates remains one of the wealthiest individuals globally. He continues to be involved in various ventures, including climate change initiatives and technological innovations.

8. Larry Page – $135.1 billion

Larry Page, born in 1973, is best known as the co-founder of Google. His current net worth is estimated at $135.1 billion.

Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. He served as Google’s CEO from 2011 to 2015, when he became CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company.

Under Page’s leadership, Google grew from a search engine into a tech giant, developing products like Gmail, Google Maps, and the Android operating system. He stepped down as CEO of Alphabet in 2019 but remains a board member and controlling shareholder.

Page is known for his interest in futuristic technologies and has invested in flying car startups. Despite his enormous wealth, he maintains a relatively low public profile.

9. Amancio Ortega – $132.2 billion

Amancio Ortega, born in 1936, is a Spanish fashion executive and entrepreneur. His net worth is estimated at $132.2 billion.

Ortega is the founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara clothing and accessories shops. He started his first business, Confecciones Goa, in 1963, which sold quilted bathrobes.

In 1975, Ortega opened the first Zara store with his then-wife, Rosalía Mera. The company grew rapidly, and Ortega expanded his portfolio to include other brands like Massimo Dutti, Pull&Bear, and Bershka. Today, Inditex operates over 7,500 stores worldwide.

Despite his immense wealth, Ortega is known for his modest lifestyle and rarely gives interviews. He stepped down as chairman of Inditex in 2011 but remains a significant shareholder.

10. Sergey Brin – $129.4 billion

Sergey Brin, born in 1973, is the co-founder of Google alongside Larry Page. His net worth is estimated at $129.4 billion.

Brin met Page at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in computer science. Together, they developed the PageRank algorithm, which became the foundation for Google’s search engine.

As President of Technology at Google, Brin was instrumental in the company’s growth and expansion into various tech sectors. He later became the president of Alphabet Inc. when Google restructured in 2015.

Like Page, Brin stepped down from his executive role at Alphabet in 2019 but remains a controlling shareholder and board member. He has shown interest in various technological advancements, including artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.