The global economic landscape is evolving at a rate seldom seen before, shaped by technological innovation, political shifts, and the consolidation of power among a handful of influential leaders. A new generation of powerful entrepreneurs and investors is steering global corporations, redefining how markets operate and nations compete.
Elon Musk continues to solidify his position as the world’s richest person, leading groundbreaking ventures such as Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. With a net worth of over $504 billion, he is at the forefront of innovation, pushing boundaries in electric vehicles, space exploration, brain-computer interfaces, and urban tunneling.
Musk’s recent accomplishments include advancing reusable rockets for SpaceX’s Mars ambitions, expanding Tesla’s dominance in the EV market, and launching xAI to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
Larry Ellison
- Industry: Technology (Oracle)
- Citizenship: US
Ellison owns a substantial stake (around 41%) in
Oracle, which he co-founded in 1977. Oracle’s five-year deal with OpenAI, starting from 2027, also skyrocketed his wealth. A single-day stock rally of over 30% in September 2025, following a strong earnings report and optimistic cloud revenue projections, added over $100 billion to his net worth in one day.
The merger of Paramount and Skydance Media, an $8 billion deal, was finalized in August 2025.
Jeff Bezos
- Industry: Technology and E-commerce (Amazon)
- Citizenship: US
Jeff Bezos’ massive wealth stems from a combination of the
foundational success of Amazon and recent growth in its key divisions, along with strategic investments in other high-impact ventures. In early 2024, he sold approximately 50 million Amazon shares (totaling over $8.5 billion), capitalizing on the stock’s strong performance while still maintaining a significant ownership stake.
Larry Page
- Industry: Technology (Google)
- Citizenship: US
Larry Page spearheaded key acquisitions such as Android in 2005 for $50 million and YouTube in 2006 for $1.76 billion. Both platforms became multi-billion-dollar, market-leading platforms under Google’s umbrella. In 2015, Page orchestrated the restructuring of Google into a holding company called Alphabet, which he served as CEO until 2019.
The growth of Alphabet’s stock, driven by the profitability of Google Search and recent advancements in AI and Cloud services, is the key driver of his high ranking.
Sergei Brin
- Industry: Technology (Google)
- Citizenship: US
Alongside his Stanford PhD colleague, Larry Page, Sergey Brin played a pivotal role in establishing the Google search engine in 1998. Brin was integral to creating Alphabet Inc. in 2015, the holding company that organizes Google’s profitable core business and its futuristic “Other Bets”—of which he was the President until 2019.
In late 2023 and early 2024, Brin initiated his first major sales of Alphabet stock in several years, selling millions of shares worth over $700 million, capitalizing on the high stock price driven by AI optimism.
Mark Zuckerberg
- Industry: Technology (Meta)
- Citizenship: US
Zuckerberg’s massive wealth is primarily built on the global dominance of Meta’s platforms and a recent strategic pivot into AI. He acquired key potential rivals that became massive successes: Instagram (2012 for $1 billion) and WhatsApp (2014 for $19 billion), which significantly expanded Meta’s user base and market dominance.
Mark Zuckerberg made headlines when his net worth soared in 2024 and 2025, largely driven by a significant surge in Meta’s stock price (around 70% in 2024 alone).
Bernard Arnault
- Industry: Luxury goods (LVMH)
- Citizenship: France
Bernard Arnault’s status as a top billionaire stems entirely from his strategic control and expansion of the world’s leading luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. He also orchestrated the acquisition of the iconic US jeweler Tiffany & Co. in 2021, LVMH’s largest acquisition ever.
LVMH has consistently reported record-breaking sales and profits, particularly driven by high performance in its Fashion and Leather Goods division, which directly translates to increases in Arnault’s already high net worth.
Jensen Huang
- Industry: Technology and Semiconductors (Nvidia)
- Citizenship: US
Huang
co-founded Nvidia in 1993 with Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, foreseeing a future in accelerated computing. He steered Nvidia to become the world’s most valuable and popular company.
Huang holds approximately 3% to 3.5% of Nvidia’s stock through personal and family trusts, directly tying his immense personal wealth to the company’s performance.
Steve Ballmer
- Industry: Technology (Microsoft)
- Citizenship: US
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 and negotiated a significant equity stake (around 8% at one point, settling at roughly 4% by retirement), which is the
foundation of his wealth. He led major acquisitions like the $8.5 billion purchase of Skype in 2011, expanding Microsoft’s market reach.
Post-Microsoft, Ballmer purchased the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion in 2014. The team’s value has more than doubled since then to around $5.5 billion, and he has overseen the construction of a new $2 billion arena (Intuit Dome).
Warren Buffett
- Industry: Diverse
- Citizenship: US
Warren Buffett, widely recognised as the "Oracle of Omaha," is one of history"s most accomplished investors. He is the head of Berkshire Hathaway, an investment conglomerate with a diverse portfolio encompassing numerous companies, insurance provider Geico, battery manufacturer Duracell, Apple, Nu Holdings and restaurant chain Dairy Queen.
In 2010, Buffett and Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates established the Giving Pledge initiative, which urges billionaires to donate at least 50 percent of their wealth to charitable organisations. Demonstrating his unwavering philanthropic commitment, Buffett has expressed his intention to donate 99 percent of his fortune.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the global count of billionaires in 2025?
As of March 2025, Forbes reports that the number of billionaires globally stands at 3,028.
Which nation has the highest number of billionaires?
Currently, the US has the most billionaires, with a combined net worth of $6.8 trillion.
Who are the top 3 richest people in India?
Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and Savitri Jindal are the top 3 richest people in India. Check out the full list here.
