As of December 2024, the world’s wealthiest individuals are primarily involved in technology, business, and luxury goods, with their fortunes tied to the performance of major companies they founded or lead. Below is a detailed breakdown of the top 10 richest people in the world.
10. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers

- Net Worth: $144.1 billion
- Age: 71
- Country: France
- Industry: Cosmetics
- Assets:
L’Oréal: Bettencourt Meyers is the chairwoman of L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics company. She inherited her wealth from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, who was a major shareholder in L’Oréal.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers inherited her fortune from L’Oréal, where she holds a major stake. Under her leadership, the company continues to be a global leader in beauty and skincare. Bettencourt Meyers is one of the wealthiest women in the world, and her wealth primarily comes from her significant stake in L’Oréal, a leader in the beauty industry.
9. Warren Buffett

- Net Worth: $155.3 billion
- Age: 94
- Country: United States
- Industry: Investment
- Assets:
Berkshire Hathaway: Buffett is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a multinational conglomerate holding company with investments in diverse sectors, including insurance, energy, and consumer goods.
Warren Buffett, often called the “Oracle of Omaha,” has built his wealth through Berkshire Hathaway, a company known for its long-term investments in companies like Coca-Cola, Apple, and American Express. Buffett is one of the most respected investors in history, known for his conservative approach and focus on value investing.
8. Sergey Brin

- Net Worth: $163.2 billion
- Age: 51
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology
- Assets:
- Alphabet Inc.: Brin co-founded Google, and like Page, he retains a significant stake in Alphabet.
- Other Ventures: Brin has invested in several other startups and is focused on technology-driven ventures, including health care and autonomous vehicles.
Sergey Brin, like his co-founder Larry Page, built Google into an internet powerhouse, and his fortune is tied to Alphabet’s diverse tech empire. Brin is also an active investor in innovative projects, focusing on emerging technologies that could shape the future of business and society.
7. Steve Ballmer

- Net Worth: $164.9 billion
- Age: 68
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology
- Assets:
- Microsoft: Ballmer was the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014 and retains a large ownership stake in the company, which remains a leader in software, cloud computing, and gaming.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Ballmer also owns the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.
Steve Ballmer’s wealth is closely tied to his tenure at Microsoft, where he led the company’s expansion into cloud computing and enterprise software. His stake in Microsoft continues to yield significant returns, and his investment in the Los Angeles Clippers also boosts his financial portfolio.
6. Larry Page

- Net Worth: $173.5 billion
- Age: 51
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology
- Key Assets:
- Alphabet Inc.: Page co-founded Google, which is now the parent company, Alphabet. His wealth is tied to the success of Google’s ad-driven business model and its expanding portfolio of products and services.
- Other Ventures: Page is also involved in several ventures like Kitty Hawk, a flying car startup.
Larry Page, as the co-founder of Google, revolutionized the search engine market and digital advertising. His wealth has grown alongside Alphabet’s dominance in internet services, including YouTube, Google Search, and Android. Page continues to explore new technologies, including advancements in artificial intelligence and autonomous transportation.
5. Larry Ellison

- Net Worth: $198.2 billion
- Age: 80
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology
- Assets:
- Oracle: Ellison co-founded Oracle, one of the world’s leading database software companies, which remains integral to enterprise technology.
- Tesla: Ellison is a board member of Tesla and has a stake in the company, further adding to his wealth.
- Real Estate: Ellison owns extensive real estate, including a Hawaiian island.
Larry Ellison’s fortune is largely driven by his role in founding Oracle, a giant in the enterprise software and cloud computing industry. He has successfully expanded his wealth through strategic investments in other tech companies, including a prominent role in Tesla. Additionally, Ellison’s personal investments in real estate, particularly luxury properties and islands, have added to his substantial wealth.
4. Bernard Arnault

- Net Worth: $180.1 billion
- Age: 75
- Country: France
- Industry: Luxury Goods
- Assets:
LVMH: Arnault is the chairman and CEO of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate, which includes brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Sephora, and Bulgari.
Bernard Arnault made his fortune in the luxury goods industry through LVMH, which encompasses some of the most coveted brands in the world. His company’s diversified portfolio spans fashion, cosmetics, wines, and spirits, making Arnault one of the few billionaires whose wealth is primarily tied to the high-end retail sector. Arnault has maintained his position as the wealthiest European and the richest non-tech billionaire globally.
3. Mark Zuckerberg

- Net Worth: $223.6 billion
- Age: 40
- Country: United States
- Industry: Social Media, Technology
- Assets:
Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook): Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook (now Meta), which has grown to be the world’s largest social media network. Meta also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus.
Mark Zuckerberg’s wealth is primarily tied to his ownership stake in Meta, which remains a dominant force in social media and advertising. The company’s focus on virtual reality and the “metaverse” has led to both praise and skepticism in recent years. Zuckerberg continues to reshape the digital landscape with Meta’s investments in new technologies, including artificial intelligence and immersive virtual worlds.
2. Jeff Bezos

- Net Worth: $248.9 billion
- Age: 60
- Country: United States
- Industry: E-commerce, Technology
- Assets:
Amazon: Bezos founded Amazon, which remains one of the largest e-commerce platforms globally. While Bezos stepped down as CEO in 2021, he retains significant control through his ownership of around 10% of the company.
Jeff Bezos built Amazon into a global e-commerce giant and expanded into various industries, including cloud computing (Amazon Web Services), entertainment (Amazon Prime Video), and logistics. Although his direct involvement with Amazon has decreased, his wealth is still primarily tied to the company’s performance. Bezos also owns The Washington Post and has space exploration ambitions through his company Blue Origin.
1. Elon Musk

- Net Worth: $343 billion
- Age: 53
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology, Space Exploration
- Assets:
- Tesla: Musk owns about 13% of Tesla, which is worth $142 billion.
- SpaceX: The private space company is valued at $82.2 billion.
- Other Ventures: Musk is involved in The Boring Company ($3.33 billion), Neuralink ($2.07 billion), and X (formerly Twitter, valued at $25 billion).
Elon Musk is the wealthiest person in the world, with a diverse portfolio of companies that have dramatically reshaped multiple industries, including electric vehicles (Tesla), space exploration (SpaceX), and online communication (X, formerly Twitter). His wealth is mainly driven by Tesla’s stock price, although the value of his private ventures, like SpaceX, also contributes significantly to his wealth. Musk’s influence in various sectors makes him a highly dynamic billionaire with an ability to shift between technological innovation and large-scale ventures.
The top 10 wealthiest people in the world in 2024 include tech moguls, luxury brand leaders, and seasoned investors, with a large focus on companies driving innovation in technology and e-commerce. Their fortunes are linked to their significant ownership in companies like Tesla, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle, as well as strategic investments in sectors like space exploration, artificial intelligence, and consumer goods. These individuals represent the power of entrepreneurship, strategic investment, and the ability to innovate across multiple industries.