Louis Vuitton boss remains richest man in the world with $233B fortune
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French businessman and investor Bernard Arnault retained his position as the world's richest man on Forbes' billionaires list this year, increasing his lead on social media and e-commerce behemoths Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg to amass a staggering £233billion fortune. A record-breaking 2,781 billionaires now lay claim to the title, up from 2,640 last year. Still reeling from post-pandemic complications with hiring, firing and supply chains the number of global billionaires fell the year prior from 2,688. Today, the super-rich are collectively worth a staggering $14.2 trillion in total, $2 trillion more than they were worth last year - and nearly half the GDP of the United States. 2023-2024 was an especially big year for American investors, with eight of the ten richest people in the world from the US.
![The U.S. now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 billion. China reports the second highest number of billionaires worldwide, with 473, though they are worth a combined $1.7 trillion. 2024 also saw a number of newcomers on the scene, with Taylor Swift reporting a net worth of more than a billion dollars for the first time in her career, after 17 years climbing to the top of pop. By popularity, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Michael Jordan topped the list of fan favorite billionaires, recording personal fortunes of $5.5 billion, $4.8 billion and $3. 2billion respectively.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/83149157-0-The_U_S_now_boasts_a_record_813_billionaires_worth_a_combined_5_-a-69_1712074728308.jpg)
The U.S. now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 billion. China reports the second highest number of billionaires worldwide, with 473, though they are worth a combined $1.7 trillion. 2024 also saw a number of newcomers on the scene, with Taylor Swift reporting a net worth of more than a billion dollars for the first time in her career, after 17 years climbing to the top of pop. By popularity, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Michael Jordan topped the list of fan favorite billionaires, recording personal fortunes of $5.5 billion, $4.8 billion and $3. 2billion respectively.
![1. Bernard Arnault (France) $233 billion - LVMH: EmpireBernard Arnault, now 75, became the world's richest man last year after his net worth exceeded $200 billion. His fortunes have only grown since, swelling to a massive $233 billion in the space of 12 months. Arnault, who began his career with the strategic acquisition of struggling conglomerate Boussac Saint-Freres in 1984, has gone from strength to strength in recent years, benefitting from a huge uptick from $76billion to $150billion between 2020 and 2021 and riding out the turbulent years since with steady growth. The investor and art collector claimed the top spot in 2022 when shares of LVMH climbed 35 percent and he pulled in revenues of $21.7billion — or €20billion. In January of that year, LVMH made a huge luxury fashion business deal after acquiring Tiffany & Co. for $15.8 billion, while Arnault then promoted his son to leadership of the American jeweler. Arnault lives in a stunning 150-year-old castle in northwest Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, France, that has belonged to the billionaire's family since 1998, while he also owns a stunning home in the ultra-prestigious Les Parcs de Saint-Tropez enclave.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/69504411-0-1_Bernard_Arnault_France_233_billion_LVMH_Empire_Bernard_Arnault-a-71_1712074728370.jpg)
1. Bernard Arnault (France) $233 billion - LVMH: EmpireBernard Arnault, now 75, became the world's richest man last year after his net worth exceeded $200 billion. His fortunes have only grown since, swelling to a massive $233 billion in the space of 12 months. Arnault, who began his career with the strategic acquisition of struggling conglomerate Boussac Saint-Freres in 1984, has gone from strength to strength in recent years, benefitting from a huge uptick from $76billion to $150billion between 2020 and 2021 and riding out the turbulent years since with steady growth. The investor and art collector claimed the top spot in 2022 when shares of LVMH climbed 35 percent and he pulled in revenues of $21.7billion — or €20billion. In January of that year, LVMH made a huge luxury fashion business deal after acquiring Tiffany & Co. for $15.8 billion, while Arnault then promoted his son to leadership of the American jeweler. Arnault lives in a stunning 150-year-old castle in northwest Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, France, that has belonged to the billionaire's family since 1998, while he also owns a stunning home in the ultra-prestigious Les Parcs de Saint-Tropez enclave.
![2. Elon Musk (United States) $195 billion - Tesla, Space X, X: Elon Musk was unsettled from the top spot of Forbes' annual list last year following his decision to purchase Twitter, now X, for $44billion. In their analysis, Forbes noted that while Tesla and Space X were still going from strength to strength, X was struggling to attain the same success - and revenues - it had built up under its previous administration. To date, Musk still owns about 12 percent of Tesla excluding options. Earlier this year, a Delaware judge voided his 2018 deal to receive options worth an extra nine percent of the car company. Forbes chose to discount the options by 50 percent pending the result of Musk's appeal in their calculations. While Twitter - now worth an estimated 70 percent of what it cost Musk in October 2022 - has caused Musk problems, Space X is thriving, quintupling its value in four years, according to Forbes. Musk's net worth soared from an estimated $24.6billion in 2020 to £151billion in 2021, peaking at $219billion in 2022 before falling to $180billion last year. The climb of $15billion marks a small but steady recovery for the 52-year-old.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/83147937-0-2_Elon_Musk_United_States_195_billion_Tesla_Space_X_X_Elon_Musk_-a-72_1712074728373.jpg)
2. Elon Musk (United States) $195 billion - Tesla, Space X, X: Elon Musk was unsettled from the top spot of Forbes' annual list last year following his decision to purchase Twitter, now X, for $44billion. In their analysis, Forbes noted that while Tesla and Space X were still going from strength to strength, X was struggling to attain the same success - and revenues - it had built up under its previous administration. To date, Musk still owns about 12 percent of Tesla excluding options. Earlier this year, a Delaware judge voided his 2018 deal to receive options worth an extra nine percent of the car company. Forbes chose to discount the options by 50 percent pending the result of Musk's appeal in their calculations. While Twitter - now worth an estimated 70 percent of what it cost Musk in October 2022 - has caused Musk problems, Space X is thriving, quintupling its value in four years, according to Forbes. Musk's net worth soared from an estimated $24.6billion in 2020 to £151billion in 2021, peaking at $219billion in 2022 before falling to $180billion last year. The climb of $15billion marks a small but steady recovery for the 52-year-old.
![3. Jeff Bezos (United States) $194 billion - Amazon: Jeff Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021, 27 years after founding the e-commerce behemoth in his garage in 1994. It came two years after divorcing his wife MacKenzie in 2019, handing her a quarter of his then-16 percent stake in the company. Since then, Bezos has been pictured kicking back on his $500million superyacht in popular destinations around the world with his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez - and donated a fair portion of his wealth to nonprofits in 2023. Still, the 60-year-old continues to amass huge personal wealth, jumping from $114bn in 2023 to $194bn this year. Bezos is said to be one of the investors in Altos Labs, a biotechnology company looking to extend the human lifespan by stopping or even reversing the aging process. The company raised $3 billion in a funding round in January 2022 and is said to be recruiting a 'large cadre' of top scientists with 'lavish salaries' to push the limits of scientific research.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/69504423-0-3_Jeff_Bezos_United_States_194_billion_Amazon_Jeff_Bezos_stepped-a-73_1712074728389.jpg)
3. Jeff Bezos (United States) $194 billion - Amazon: Jeff Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in 2021, 27 years after founding the e-commerce behemoth in his garage in 1994. It came two years after divorcing his wife MacKenzie in 2019, handing her a quarter of his then-16 percent stake in the company. Since then, Bezos has been pictured kicking back on his $500million superyacht in popular destinations around the world with his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez - and donated a fair portion of his wealth to nonprofits in 2023. Still, the 60-year-old continues to amass huge personal wealth, jumping from $114bn in 2023 to $194bn this year. Bezos is said to be one of the investors in Altos Labs, a biotechnology company looking to extend the human lifespan by stopping or even reversing the aging process. The company raised $3 billion in a funding round in January 2022 and is said to be recruiting a 'large cadre' of top scientists with 'lavish salaries' to push the limits of scientific research.
![4. Mark Zuckerberg (United States) $177 billion - Meta: 'The Zuck' did not even make the top ten list last year, but has recorded massive growth with investment into AI and other innovative technologies in recent years. In 2023, the Facebook cofounder was worth an estimated $64.4billion - but this year shot up to est. $177 billion - nearly trebling his personal wealth. It follows a shift in direction, overseeing a name change to Meta in 2021 meant to reflect a push towards the metaverse. While the idea of wandering around in a virtual space together may not yet have replaced your holiday plans and meeting requests, Meta has also taken on a new role as the proprietor of Instagram and WhatsApp. Threads may have been a bust, but WhatsApp remains the most popular messaging app in the world - with nearly three billion unique active users worldwide in 2023.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/83148413-0-4_Mark_Zuckerberg_United_States_177_billion_Meta_The_Zuck_did_no-a-75_1712074728397.jpg)
4. Mark Zuckerberg (United States) $177 billion - Meta: 'The Zuck' did not even make the top ten list last year, but has recorded massive growth with investment into AI and other innovative technologies in recent years. In 2023, the Facebook cofounder was worth an estimated $64.4billion - but this year shot up to est. $177 billion - nearly trebling his personal wealth. It follows a shift in direction, overseeing a name change to Meta in 2021 meant to reflect a push towards the metaverse. While the idea of wandering around in a virtual space together may not yet have replaced your holiday plans and meeting requests, Meta has also taken on a new role as the proprietor of Instagram and WhatsApp. Threads may have been a bust, but WhatsApp remains the most popular messaging app in the world - with nearly three billion unique active users worldwide in 2023.
![5. Larry Ellison (United States) $141 billion - Oracle: Larry Ellison's continued investment in software giant Oracle has seen the entrepreneur's personal wealth climb steadily in recent years - since receiving a boost at the start of the pandemic, between 2020 and 2021. Ellison cofounded the American firm in 1977 but stepped back as CEO in 2014 after 37 years in the role. Today, he remains chairman and CTO. Ellison's wealth was reported to have declined between 2015 and 2016, down from $54 billion to $43.6 billion. His fortunes have changed in the years since, following an astronomical climb from $59 billion to $93 billion between 2020 and 2021. In 2019, Oracle announced it was joining forces with former rival Microsoft, seen as a move intended to allow the group to compete with other online services including Amazon and Google. Oracle went on to acquire LiveData Utilities in 2020, AI and automation tools company Federos in 2021, and parts of Smartvid.io in 2022. In February 2023, the company announced it was planning to invest $1.5billion into Saudi Arabia amid the country's bold ambitions to diversify its economy and venture into new tech-driven spaces. Oracle today boasts a revenue of $48billion with a huge $131.6billion in assets.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/69504451-0-5_Larry_Ellison_United_States_141_billion_Oracle_Larry_Ellison_s-a-76_1712074728400.jpg)
5. Larry Ellison (United States) $141 billion - Oracle: Larry Ellison's continued investment in software giant Oracle has seen the entrepreneur's personal wealth climb steadily in recent years - since receiving a boost at the start of the pandemic, between 2020 and 2021. Ellison cofounded the American firm in 1977 but stepped back as CEO in 2014 after 37 years in the role. Today, he remains chairman and CTO. Ellison's wealth was reported to have declined between 2015 and 2016, down from $54 billion to $43.6 billion. His fortunes have changed in the years since, following an astronomical climb from $59 billion to $93 billion between 2020 and 2021. In 2019, Oracle announced it was joining forces with former rival Microsoft, seen as a move intended to allow the group to compete with other online services including Amazon and Google. Oracle went on to acquire LiveData Utilities in 2020, AI and automation tools company Federos in 2021, and parts of Smartvid.io in 2022. In February 2023, the company announced it was planning to invest $1.5billion into Saudi Arabia amid the country's bold ambitions to diversify its economy and venture into new tech-driven spaces. Oracle today boasts a revenue of $48billion with a huge $131.6billion in assets.
![6. Warren Buffett (United States) $133 billion - Berkshire Hathaway: Warren Buffett, a mainstay on most of the lists of the world's richest people, placed sixth this year, worth an estimated $133billion. The American investor and philanthropist is the oldest on Forbes' list, aged 93, and began his career with the founding of Buffett Partnership Ltd. as long ago as 1956. As chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970, the 'Oracle' has become renowned worldwide for his successful decisions and care with money. As one of the most successful investors of all time, he owns dozens of companies including Geico, Duracell and Dairy Queen. Despite his reported frugality in business, Buffett has shared plans to give away 99 percent of his wealth, mainly through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Reflecting on his work ethic and values, he once remarked: 'I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing'. As of last year, Buffett had given $50 billion to charitable causes - more than his entire estimated wealth in 2006. In 2023, he also topped the list for charity donations.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/69504433-0-6_Warren_Buffett_United_States_133billion_Berkshire_Hathaway_War-a-77_1712074728417.jpg)
6. Warren Buffett (United States) $133 billion - Berkshire Hathaway: Warren Buffett, a mainstay on most of the lists of the world's richest people, placed sixth this year, worth an estimated $133billion. The American investor and philanthropist is the oldest on Forbes' list, aged 93, and began his career with the founding of Buffett Partnership Ltd. as long ago as 1956. As chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970, the 'Oracle' has become renowned worldwide for his successful decisions and care with money. As one of the most successful investors of all time, he owns dozens of companies including Geico, Duracell and Dairy Queen. Despite his reported frugality in business, Buffett has shared plans to give away 99 percent of his wealth, mainly through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Reflecting on his work ethic and values, he once remarked: 'I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing'. As of last year, Buffett had given $50 billion to charitable causes - more than his entire estimated wealth in 2006. In 2023, he also topped the list for charity donations.
![7. Bill Gates (United States) $128 billion - Microsoft: Fellow philanthropist and entrepreneur Bill Gates took the number seven spot in 2024, worth an estimated $128billion. Gates, the founder of Microsoft, has diversified his fortune into dozens of holdings, including waste disposal firm Republic Services, Forbes noted. The 68-year-old, who famously dropped out of Harvard to pursue his business ambitions with the late Paul Allen, owned just 1.3 percent of Microsoft's shares when he stepped back from the board in 2020. But smart investments held by family office Cascade Investments have ensured Gates remains on all the top lists - while giving away billions in charitable donations. Founding the Gates Foundation with his ex-wife Melinda Gates, he donated roughly $59 billion to the organization whose other patrons include Warren Buffet. The foundation recently announced it would spend $8.6 billion in 2024, its largest budget to date, aided by a $20 billion donation by Gates in 2022. It also plans to increase its spend to $9 billion next year - and then hold it at that level. A report from Oxfam International, released during the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, previously found that the fortunes of the world’s five richest men have doubled since 2020 and that the increasing concentration of wealth could yield the first trillionaire in the next decade. Jeff Bezos overtook him in 2018 to become the world's richest person.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/69504429-0-7_Bill_Gates_United_States_128_billion_Microsoft_Fellow_philanth-a-78_1712074728427.jpg)
7. Bill Gates (United States) $128 billion - Microsoft: Fellow philanthropist and entrepreneur Bill Gates took the number seven spot in 2024, worth an estimated $128billion. Gates, the founder of Microsoft, has diversified his fortune into dozens of holdings, including waste disposal firm Republic Services, Forbes noted. The 68-year-old, who famously dropped out of Harvard to pursue his business ambitions with the late Paul Allen, owned just 1.3 percent of Microsoft's shares when he stepped back from the board in 2020. But smart investments held by family office Cascade Investments have ensured Gates remains on all the top lists - while giving away billions in charitable donations. Founding the Gates Foundation with his ex-wife Melinda Gates, he donated roughly $59 billion to the organization whose other patrons include Warren Buffet. The foundation recently announced it would spend $8.6 billion in 2024, its largest budget to date, aided by a $20 billion donation by Gates in 2022. It also plans to increase its spend to $9 billion next year - and then hold it at that level. A report from Oxfam International, released during the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, previously found that the fortunes of the world’s five richest men have doubled since 2020 and that the increasing concentration of wealth could yield the first trillionaire in the next decade. Jeff Bezos overtook him in 2018 to become the world's richest person.
![8. Steve Ballmer (United States) $121 billion - Microsoft: Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft between 2000 and 2014, also grew his fortune to a colossal $121billion in 2023. Ballmer joined the company in 1980 and ran the company through a period of instability before retiring in 2014 to embark on a number of different ventures. Ballmer now owns the Los Angeles Clippers, bought in 2014 for $2 billion and now worth an estimated $4.65 billion. He also donated some $425 million to the University of Oregon in 2022 to create an institute aimed at supporting the behavioral and mental health needs of local children. Ballmer and family have given away as much as $3.5 billion to date, according to Forbes. Like his peers, the Stanford dropout saw a huge climb in the last 12 months, up from an estimated personal worth of $80.7 billion in 2023.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/69504761-0-8_Steve_Ballmer_United_States_121_billion_Microsoft_Steve_Ballme-a-79_1712074728490.jpg)
8. Steve Ballmer (United States) $121 billion - Microsoft: Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft between 2000 and 2014, also grew his fortune to a colossal $121billion in 2023. Ballmer joined the company in 1980 and ran the company through a period of instability before retiring in 2014 to embark on a number of different ventures. Ballmer now owns the Los Angeles Clippers, bought in 2014 for $2 billion and now worth an estimated $4.65 billion. He also donated some $425 million to the University of Oregon in 2022 to create an institute aimed at supporting the behavioral and mental health needs of local children. Ballmer and family have given away as much as $3.5 billion to date, according to Forbes. Like his peers, the Stanford dropout saw a huge climb in the last 12 months, up from an estimated personal worth of $80.7 billion in 2023.
![9. Mukesh Ambani (India) $116 billion - Reliance: Mukesh Ambani from India placed ninth this year, worth an estimated $116 billion. Ambani chairs and runs Reliance Industries, which 'has interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom, retail and financial services,' Forbes notes. His company has pledged to invest as much as $80 billion into renewable energy and a new complex over the next 10-15 years. Reliance was founded by Ambani's late father, who started out as a small textile manufacturer in 1966. Today, its broadband branch services nearly half a billion customers. Ambani also owns the Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians and founded the Indian Super League football league. He lives at the Antilia, a residence with values recorded as high as $4.6 billion.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/69506357-0-9_Mukesh_Ambani_India_116_billion_Reliance_Mukesh_Ambani_from_In-a-80_1712074728495.jpg)
9. Mukesh Ambani (India) $116 billion - Reliance: Mukesh Ambani from India placed ninth this year, worth an estimated $116 billion. Ambani chairs and runs Reliance Industries, which 'has interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom, retail and financial services,' Forbes notes. His company has pledged to invest as much as $80 billion into renewable energy and a new complex over the next 10-15 years. Reliance was founded by Ambani's late father, who started out as a small textile manufacturer in 1966. Today, its broadband branch services nearly half a billion customers. Ambani also owns the Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians and founded the Indian Super League football league. He lives at the Antilia, a residence with values recorded as high as $4.6 billion.
![10. Larry Page (United States) $114 billion - Google: Larry Page, the former Managing Director of Google, placed 10th this year with a personal fortune valued at $114 billion. Page founded Google in 1998 with fellow Stanford student Sergey Brin and remained in post as CEO until 2001. He returned as CEO of Alphabet - Google's parent firm - in 2011 until 2015, before stepping down in 2019. Page remains in key positions and has overseen a huge jump in wealth from $79.2 billion in 2023. Page's personal fortune took a dive between 2022 and 2023 before making a strong recovery by the time of the latest calculations. Read the full story:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13263217/bernard-arnault-richest-man-forbes-billionaire-musk-bezos.html?ito=msngallery](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/02/17/83149273-0-10_Larry_Page_United_States_114_billion_Google_Larry_Page_the_fo-a-81_1712074728557.jpg)
10. Larry Page (United States) $114 billion - Google: Larry Page, the former Managing Director of Google, placed 10th this year with a personal fortune valued at $114 billion. Page founded Google in 1998 with fellow Stanford student Sergey Brin and remained in post as CEO until 2001. He returned as CEO of Alphabet - Google's parent firm - in 2011 until 2015, before stepping down in 2019. Page remains in key positions and has overseen a huge jump in wealth from $79.2 billion in 2023. Page's personal fortune took a dive between 2022 and 2023 before making a strong recovery by the time of the latest calculations. Read the full story:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13263217/bernard-arnault-richest-man-forbes-billionaire-musk-bezos.html?ito=msngallery