Top 05 richest people in the world in 2024
In a world and age where ambition and entrepreneurship are ubiquitous, there is a distinguished group of individuals who have achieved unimaginable fortunes. These extraordinary leaders, with their vision and innovation, have risen to the highest echelons of success, making them the only wealthiest people in the world.
And this is no mean feat.
Indeed, the net worth of the ten richest people exceeds the GDP of many nations. Today, their wealth is mainly concentrated in the technology, finance and retail sectors. The growing wealth gap between them and the less privileged is a major concern for people around the world.
Here, we reveal the identities of the ten richest people in the world, highlighting their remarkable achievements, entrepreneurial skills and profound influence on the global economy. This list is taken from Forbes.
01. Elon Musk
Age: 52
Place of residence: Boca Chica, Texas
Citizenship: UNITED STATES
Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world. He is CEO of several leading companies, including electric car manufacturer Tesla and space exploration company SpaceX. He currently holds a 23% stake in Tesla. A large part of his fortune, around two-thirds, is linked to the success of Tesla. Musk made headlines in October 2022 when he bought Twitter for $44 billion.
Musk led Tesla to its IPO in 2010. The company saw significant growth in its market capitalisation in 2020 and 2021, propelling Musk into the top 10 richest people in the world in September 2021. At its peak in November 2021, Musk’s fortune reached a staggering $320 billion.
02. Bernard Arnault and his family
Age: 74
Residence: Paris
Citizenship: France
The second richest person in the world, Bernard Arnault is CEO and Chairman of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world’s largest luxury goods company, which comprises around 70 renowned fashion and cosmetics brands. Its portfolio includes Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon and Sephora. In January 2021, LVMH completed the acquisition of jeweller Tiffany & Co. for a staggering $15.8 billion.
03. Jeff Bezos
Age: 60
Place of residence: Medina, Washington
Citizenship: UNITED STATES
On July 2021, Jeff Bezos decided to step down from his role as CEO of e-commerce company Amazon, while retaining his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors. That same month, he embarked on a journey into space aboard a rocket developed by Blue Origin, a private space exploration company he founded and generously funded to the tune of several billion dollars.
04. Mark Zuckerberg
Age: 39
Place of residence: Palo Alto, California
Citizenship: UNITED STATES
Co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, Mark Zuckerberg created his flagship social media platform, Facebook, in 2004, when he was just 19. At the time, he was studying computer science and psychology at Harvard University. Facebook was created to associate the names of students on campus with their photos. In 2006, Facebook was opened up to anyone aged 13 or over with a valid email address.
Zuckerberg floated the company on the stock market in May 2012 and by December 2016 was ranked 10th on the Forbes list of the world’s most powerful people. Currently, Zuckerberg owns around 13% of the company’s shares.
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05. Larry Ellison
Age: 79
Residence: Manalapan, Florida
Citizenship: UNITED STATES
Dr. Larry Ellison co-founded the software company Oracle in 1977 and served as CEO until 2014. He is now the company’s executive chairman and chief technology officer. In 2012, Larry Ellison made headlines when he acquired the Hawaiian island of Lanai for $300 million. His other investments include Salesforce.com, NetSuite, Quark Biotechnology Inc. and Astex Pharmaceuticals.