In a society and an age that thrive on the desire to succeed and perhaps the capacity to become entrepreneurs, there is a bright group of people who have made unimaginable wealth. These exceptional managers, who have dreams and new ideas, have risen to the top of the management hierarchy and reached the level of the highest achievements, becoming billionaires.
Indeed, the combined assets of the 10 most affluent business moguls exceed the gross domestic product of many countries. Today, their wealth is mainly channeled into information technology, financial, and retail businesses. Yet the existing plight of the affluence gap between the rich and the needy is a matter of concern for people across the world.
Here’s a look at the top ten wealthiest figures globally and how they achieved their remarkable success.
Following are the top 10 richest people in the world:
1. Elon Musk
- Age: 52 years old
- Residence:Boca Chica, Texas
- Citizenship: US
Elon Musk is now rolling on the bed as the number one richest man in the world. He is the chairman and CEO of several successful firms, such as the Tesla Motors Company, an automobile company specializing in producing electric cars, and SpaceX, a space exploration company. He currently holds 23% of the stock in this company. About two-thirds of his net worth, it will be important to note, is tied to Tesla. Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO and founder of Tesla, became the Twitter boss in October 2022 when he bought the social media platform for $44 billion.
Musk took Tesla to its initial public offering for the first time in 2010. During 2020 and 2021, the share price of the company rose considerably, enhancing Musk’s net worth to join the top 10 infamous people with enormous wealth in September 2021. In fact, earlier this year, in November, Musk’s wealth touched an incredible high of three hundred and twenty billion dollars.
2. Jeff Bezos
- Age: 60 years old.
- Residence:Washington’s Medina
- Nationality: United States
The thirty-seven-year-old tycoon told his fans in July 2021 he’d step down as CEO of Amazon, the giant web shop. He’d stick around as chairman though. That same month, his space venture Blue Origin blasted off. Bezos poured billions into this company he started. The rocket that flew? He dreamed that up too.
3. Bernard Arnault & Family
- Age: 75 years old
- Residence: Paris
- Citizenship: France
Bernard Arnault, the billionaire and LVMH’s chairman and CEO, is the second richest man globally; LVMH is the global luxury goods producer that includes roughly 70 brands in fashion and cosmetics. Companies under its umbrella are Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon and Sephora. LVMH finalized the acquisition of jeweler brand Tiffany & Co in the beginning of this year at $15. 8 billion.
One of LVMH’s biggest shareholders is Arnault, who divides a number of enterprises within the vast company between his five children. In January next year, Arnault was named Delphine as the head of Dior, which remained the second prominent sub-brand of the group.
4. Mark Zuckerberg
- Age: 40
- Residence: Palo Alto, California
- Citizenship: US
Meta Platforms’ co-founder, and CEO of the company is Mark Zuckerberg who created Facebook, the company’s leading social media in 2004 when he was still 19 years old. He was pursuing a combination of a computer science and psychology course at Harvard University. Facebook was originally developed as a platform to help easily match the names of students on campus with their faces. Originally Facebook was launched for everyone in 2006 but to become a member of Facebook one has to be at least 13 years old and have a valid e-mail address.
In May of the year 2012, Zuckerberg made the company an exchange-listed company, while by the end of the year 2016, he was ranked 10th in the Forbes magazine’s list of The World Most Powerful People. Today, he is the shareholder of Facebook with approximately 13 percent of the stake.
5. Larry Ellison
- Age: 79
- Residence: Manalapan, Florida
- Citizenship: US
Larry Ellison started Oracle, a software company, in 1977. He ran Oracle as CEO until 2014. Now he serves as executive chairman and Chief Technology Officer. Ellison bought Lanai, a Hawaiian island, for $300 million in 2012. He put money into Salesforce.com, NetSuite, Quark Biotechnology Inc. and Astex Pharmaceuticals.
6. Larry Page
- Age: 51 years old
- Residence: Palo Alto, California
- Citizenship: American
Larry Page and Sergey Brin kicked off Google in ’98 while pursuing their PhDs at Stanford. Page took charge as CEO until ’01. He grabbed the reins again from ’11 to ’15.
Page sits on Alphabet’s board – Google’s big boss. As a major stakeholder, he wields considerable clout. Page also jumped at the chance to back Planetary Resources. This outfit dreams of striking it rich by mining space rocks and other cosmic bodies.
7.Bill Gates
- Age: 68 years old
- Residence:Lake Washington in Medina
- Citizenship:American
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, remains a prominent figure in the world of technology and philanthropy. His contributions to the software industry revolutionized personal computing. Gates’s focus has shifted towards global health and education through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, further amplifying his influence and wealth.
8.Warren Buffett
- Age: 93 years old
- Residence:Omaha
- Citizenship:American
Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Warren Buffett is celebrated for his investment acumen and leadership of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett’s long-term investment strategies and value investing principles have earned him a spot among the world’s wealthiest. His philanthropic efforts are also notable, as he has pledged to give away the majority of his fortune.
9.Mukesh Ambani
- Age: 67 years old
- Residence:Mumbai
- Citizenship:Indian
Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and largest shareholder of Reliance Industries, is the wealthiest individual in India. His conglomerate operates in sectors like petrochemicals, refining, telecommunications, and retail. Ambani’s business acumen and investments in infrastructure and technology have bolstered his wealth significantly.
10.Steve Ballmer
- Age: 68 years old
- Residence:Farmington Hills
- Citizenship:American
Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft, has built his wealth through his tenure at the tech giant and his subsequent investments. Ballmer’s acquisition of the Los Angeles Clippers and his continued involvement in various ventures contribute to his substantial fortune.
They all highlight their remarkable achievements and entrepreneurial prowess. It’s important to note that the positions on this list can change rapidly this year as well as financial markets and business fortunes undertake an uncertain and volatile path forward.
