Top 15 on Forbes’ 2024 Billionaires List in the World

The world’s billionaires have had an incredible year, with their wealth increasing despite war, political turmoil, and persistent inflation, according to stock markets around the world. There are currently 2,781 billionaires worldwide, which is 26 more than the record set in 2021 and 141 more than the previous year. With a combined wealth of $14.2 trillion, they are wealthier than ever. This is $2 trillion more than in 2023 and $1.1 trillion more than the previous record, which was also set in 2021. Just 14% of the members of the list are poorer than they were a year ago, while 2/3 of them are wealthier. A significant portion of the gains originate from the top 20, whose combined wealth has increased by $700 billion since 2023, and the United States, which currently has a record 813 billionaires with combined values of $5.7 trillion. With 473 (including Hong Kong) valued at $1.7 trillion, China continues to rank second despite low consumer spending and a real estate bubble that has caused the loss of about $300 billion in wealth. India comes in third place with 200 billionaires, which is also a record. We used March 8, 2024, stock prices and exchange rates to compute net worths. The complete list of billionaires worldwide, along with our methodology, can be found below. See our real-time billionaires rankings for the most recent net worth updates for each of the 2,781 billionaires every day.

Here are the 15 richest people in the world on the 2024 Forbes list.

1. Bernard Arnault & family

Net Worth: $233 Billion
Age: 75
Country/Territory: France
Industry: Fashion & Retail

The LVMH conglomerate, which includes Sephora and Louis Vuitton among its 75 fashion and cosmetics brands, is led by Bernard Arnault.

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2. Elon Musk

Net Worth: $195 Billion
Age: 52
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Automotive 

Six companies, including SpaceX, a rocket manufacturer, Tesla, and the tunneling startup Boring Company, were cofounded by Elon Musk.

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3. Jeff Bezos

Net Worth: $194 Billion
Age: 60
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Technology

In 1994, Jeff Bezos opened his Seattle garage to launch the e-commerce giant Amazon.

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4. Mark Zuckerberg

Net Worth: $177 Billion
Age: 39
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Technology

In 2004, 19-year-old Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, a platform that allowed students to match classmates’ names with photos.

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5. Larry Ellison

Net Worth: $141 Billion
Age: 79
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Technology

Oracle is a software giant that Larry Ellison cofounded and serves as chairman and chief technology officer, owning slightly less than 40% of the company.

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6. Warren Buffett

Net Worth: $133 Billion
Age: 93
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Finance & Investments

Often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Warren Buffett is among the all-time great investors.

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7. Bill Gates

Net Worth: $128 Billion
Age: 68
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Technology

Bill Gates spread his wealth from the software company Microsoft to numerous businesses, such as Republic Services, a waste disposal firm, and Deere & Co., a tractor manufacturer.

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8. Steve Ballmer

Net Worth: $121 Billion
Age: 68
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Technology

The exuberant former CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, oversaw the company from 2000 until 2014.

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9. Mukesh Ambani

Net Worth: $116 Billion
Age: 66
Country/Territory: India
Industry: Diversified

Reliance Industries, with $110 billion in revenue, is chaired and managed by Mukesh Ambani. The company is involved in petrochemicals, retail, financial services, telecom, and oil and gas.
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10. Larry Page

Net Worth: $114 Billion
Age: 51
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Technology

In 2019, Larry Page announced his resignation as CEO of Alphabet, the company that owns Google, but he is still a member of the board and a major shareholder.

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11. Sergey Brin

Net Worth: $110 Billion
Age: 50
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Technology

In December 2019, Sergey Brin announced his resignation as president of Alphabet, the company that owns Google, but he is still a member of the board and a major shareholder.

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12. Michael Bloomberg

Net Worth: $106 Billion
Age: 82
Country/Territory: United States
Industry: Finance & Investments

In 1981, Michael Bloomberg cofounded the media and financial information company Bloomberg LP.

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13. Amancio Ortega
    Net Worth: $103 Billion
    Age: 88
    Country/Territory: Spain
    Industry: Fashion & Retail

Amancio Ortega, a Spanish clothing retailer, is among the wealthiest people in the world.

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14. Carlos Slim Helu & family

Net Worth: $102 Billion
Age: 84
Country/Territory: Mexico
Industry: Telecom

América Móvil, the largest mobile telecom company in Latin America, is owned by Carlos Slim Helú, the richest person in Mexico, and his family.

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15. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & family

Net Worth: $99.5 Billion
Age: 70
Country/Territory: France
Industry: Fashion & Retail

The richest woman in the world is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, a granddaughter of L’Oreal’s founder.