As a startup owner, I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of those who’ve reached the pinnacle of financial success. Their journeys from ambitious entrepreneurs to global titans of industry not only inspire but also offer valuable lessons for those of us still climbing the ladder. 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.
These individuals have not only amassed incredible wealth but have also shaped industries, revolutionized technologies, and in many cases, changed the way we live our daily lives. From tech visionaries to retail revolutionaries, each person on this list has a unique story of innovation, perseverance, and sometimes, a bit of luck.
1. Elon Musk – $264.7 billion
Elon Musk, the enigmatic entrepreneur and visionary, currently holds the title of the world’s richest person with a staggering net worth of $264.7 billion as of 2024. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Musk displayed an early aptitude for technology and entrepreneurship. He co-founded Zip2, an online city guide, which was sold to Compaq for nearly $300 million in 1999. This early success set the stage for his future ventures.
Musk’s wealth primarily stems from his involvement in revolutionary companies across various sectors. He co-founded PayPal, which was later acquired by eBay, netting him a significant windfall. However, it was his founding of SpaceX in 2002 and his early investment in Tesla, where he became CEO in 2008, that catapulted his net worth to unprecedented heights. Tesla’s meteoric rise in the stock market, coupled with SpaceX’s groundbreaking achievements in space exploration and satellite internet, have been the primary drivers of Musk’s wealth accumulation.
In recent years, Musk has expanded his portfolio to include ventures like Neuralink, focusing on brain-computer interfaces, and The Boring Company, which aims to revolutionize transportation through underground tunnels. His acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 for $44 billion further diversified his holdings. Despite occasional fluctuations in his net worth due to market volatility and his propensity for controversial statements, Musk has consistently maintained his position at the top of the global wealth rankings, solidifying his status as one of the most influential and wealthy individuals in the world.
2. Jeff Bezos – $216.5 billion
According to the Real-Time Billionaires List, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, holds the second position on the list of the world’s wealthiest individuals with a net worth of $216.5 billion as of 2024. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1964, Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, which he grew into the world’s largest e-commerce platform. His visionary leadership and focus on customer satisfaction have been key to Amazon’s success. Bezos stepped down as CEO in 2021 but remains executive chairman, maintaining significant influence over the company. His wealth is primarily derived from his Amazon shares, though he has diversified his investments to include Blue Origin, his space exploration company, and The Washington Post, which he acquired in 2013.
3. Larry Ellison – $209.1 billion
Larry Ellison, co-founder, executive chairman, and CTO of Oracle Corporation, ranks third among the world’s richest with a net worth of $209.1 billion in 2024. Born in New York City in 1944, Ellison co-founded Software Development Laboratories in 1977, which later became Oracle Corporation. Under his leadership, Oracle grew to become one of the largest and most influential software companies globally, specializing in database management systems. Ellison’s wealth is largely tied to his substantial stake in Oracle, but he has also made significant investments in other tech companies and real estate. Known for his lavish lifestyle and philanthropic efforts, Ellison has pledged to give away 95% of his wealth through the Giving Pledge.
4. Mark Zuckerberg – $198 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), has solidified his position as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals with a net worth of $198 billion as of 2024. Born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, Zuckerberg showed an early aptitude for computer programming. He launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm room in 2004, which quickly grew into the world’s largest social media platform.
Zuckerberg’s wealth is primarily tied to his stake in Meta Platforms, where he holds approximately 13% of the company’s shares. Under his leadership, Meta has expanded beyond its initial social networking focus to encompass a wide range of digital services and technologies, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and virtual reality platforms. In 2021, Zuckerberg announced a major rebranding of Facebook to Meta, signaling the company’s ambitious push into the “metaverse,” a concept of interconnected virtual spaces.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny, Zuckerberg has consistently driven Meta’s growth and innovation. His vision extends beyond business success, as evidenced by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which he founded with his wife, Priscilla Chan. Through this organization, the couple has pledged to give away 99% of their Meta shares during their lifetime to advance causes such as education, science, and equality.
5. Bernard Arnault & family – $168 billion
Bernard Arnault, the French business magnate and art collector, stands as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals with a net worth of $168 billion. As the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Arnault has built a luxury goods empire that encompasses some of the most prestigious brands in fashion, jewelry, and spirits.
Arnault’s journey to becoming a luxury titan began in the 1980s when he acquired Christian Dior and subsequently merged it with Louis Vuitton. Under his leadership, LVMH has grown to include around 75 luxury brands across 60 subsidiaries, including names like Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, and Tiffany & Co. His strategic acquisitions and keen business acumen have earned him nicknames such as “The Wolf in the Cashmere Coat” and “The Great Predator of Luxury”.
The majority of Arnault’s wealth stems from his 48.6% stake in LVMH, which had a market capitalization of over $400.2 billion as of early June 2024. His success in the luxury goods sector has been particularly notable during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a significant boost in LVMH’s stock price.
6. Larry Page – $141 billion
Larry Page, co-founder of Google and former CEO of its parent company Alphabet, has amassed a fortune of $141 billion. Born on March 26, 1973, in East Lansing, Michigan, Page’s journey to becoming one of the world’s wealthiest individuals began at Stanford University, where he met Sergey Brin. Together, they founded Google in 1998, revolutionizing internet search and digital advertising.
Page served as Google’s CEO from its founding until 2001 and again from 2011 to 2015. He then became CEO of Alphabet when Google restructured in 2015, a position he held until 2019. Under his leadership, Google expanded into various technological domains, including mobile operating systems (Android), web browsers (Chrome), and productivity tools (Google Workspace).
The majority of Page’s wealth comes from his stake in Alphabet, Google’s parent company. He owns approximately 6% of Alphabet, which continues to be one of the world’s most valuable companies. Since stepping down from his role at Alphabet, Page has maintained a low profile, focusing on personal investments and projects. He has shown particular interest in “moonshot” technologies, including flying cars and renewable energy solutions.
7. Warren Buffett – $139.8 billion
Warren Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” has long been recognized as one of the most successful investors in the world. With a net worth of $139.8 billion as of 2024, Buffett continues to be a prominent figure in the global financial landscape. Born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett displayed an exceptional aptitude for business and investing from a young age.
Buffett’s path to immense wealth began with his purchase of Berkshire Hathaway, a failing textile company, in 1965. Under his leadership, Berkshire Hathaway transformed into a massive conglomerate, owning a diverse portfolio of businesses across various sectors. His investment philosophy, centered on value investing and long-term growth, has consistently outperformed market averages over decades.
Known for his frugal lifestyle despite his vast wealth, Buffett has pledged to give away more than 99% of his fortune to philanthropic causes. He co-founded The Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates, encouraging other billionaires to commit a majority of their wealth to charitable endeavors. Buffett’s influence extends beyond finance; his annual shareholder letters and public statements are closely followed for insights on the economy, investing, and business ethics.
8. Sergey Brin – $135 billion
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google and former president of its parent company Alphabet, has accumulated a fortune of $135 billion. Born in Moscow, Russia, in 1973, Brin immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six. He met Larry Page while pursuing his Ph.D. at Stanford University, and together they founded Google in 1998, revolutionizing internet search and digital advertising.
Brin served as the president of Alphabet from its formation in 2015 until December 2019, when he stepped down from his executive role. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in Google’s expansion into various technological domains, including artificial intelligence, self-driving cars (Waymo), and life sciences (Verily). His wealth primarily stems from his significant stake in Alphabet, where he remains a controlling shareholder and board member.
Known for his interest in cutting-edge technologies, Brin has been involved in projects such as Google Glass and has shown a keen interest in space exploration and longevity research. Despite maintaining a relatively low public profile in recent years, his influence in the tech world remains substantial.
9. Amancio Ortega – $128.5 billion
Amancio Ortega, the Spanish fashion tycoon and founder of Inditex, the parent company of Zara, has amassed a fortune of $128.5 billion. Born in 1936 in Busdongo de Arbás, Spain, Ortega’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the world’s wealthiest individuals is a testament to his business acumen and innovative approach to fashion retail.
Ortega co-founded Inditex with his late ex-wife Rosalía Mera in 1975, starting with a small shop called Zara. His revolutionary “fast fashion” business model, which involves quickly turning catwalk designs into affordable clothing, propelled Zara to global success. Today, Inditex operates over 7,000 stores worldwide under various brands, including Zara, Pull&Bear, and Massimo Dutti.
Despite his immense wealth, Ortega is known for maintaining a low profile and leading a relatively modest lifestyle. He stepped down as chairman of Inditex in 2011 but continues to own about 59% of the company. Ortega has diversified his investments into real estate in major cities worldwide, further solidifying his position among the global elite.
10. Steve Ballmer – $122.1 billion
Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team, has accumulated a net worth of $122.1 billion. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1956, Ballmer’s journey to becoming one of the world’s wealthiest individuals is closely tied to the rise of personal computing and Microsoft’s dominance in the software industry.
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as the company’s 30th employee and its first business manager. He served as CEO from 2000 to 2014, leading Microsoft through a period of significant growth and challenges. During his tenure, Microsoft solidified its position in the enterprise market and expanded into new areas such as gaming with the Xbox console.
After retiring from Microsoft, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion in 2014, the highest price ever paid for an NBA team at the time. He has since focused on philanthropic efforts through the Ballmer Group, which he founded with his wife Connie. The organization aims to improve economic mobility for children and families in the United States. Ballmer’s energetic personality and passionate approach to business and sports have made him a notable figure in both the tech and sports worlds.