In this article, we are going to talk about the top 10 richest people in the world as of March 2024 and what they do for a living.
Forbes reported on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024, that despite inflation and political unrest, the number of billionaires has increased in 2024.
According to Forbes, the global count of billionaires has reached 2,781, marking a rise of 141 individuals compared to the data from 2023 and surpassing the previous record set in 2021 by an additional 26 billionaires.
In March alone, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, emerged as the highest gainer, witnessing a staggering surge of nearly $16 billion in wealth attributed to a 10% rise in the stock price of the software giant. However, despite this significant increase, Ellison now holds the position of the fifth richest person globally.
During the same period, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg surpassed Ellison in wealth, securing a higher ranking among the world’s richest individuals.
Also, only four (4) Nigerians were spotted on the Forbes list of Richest people in the world as of the moment of filling this content.
From number 10 to number 1, below are top 10 richest people in the world according to Forbes.
10. Sergey Brin
Source: Google
Networth: $121.1billion
Last year, Brin emerged from semi-retirement to contribute changes to Google’s Gemini AI chatbot, being recognized as a “core contributor” when the model was unveiled in December.
9. Steve Ballmer
Source: Microsoft, Clippers, investments
Networth: $124.5 billion
Steve Ballmer began his career journey with Microsoft as its 30th employee in 1980. Despite initially enrolling in an MBA program at Stanford University, Ballmer chose to forgo his studies and join the rapidly expanding tech firm.
His tenure at Microsoft peaked when he took on the role of CEO from 2000 to 2014, guiding the company through a pivotal era in the tech landscape. After retiring from Microsoft, Ballmer made waves with his acquisition of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for a record-setting $2 billion, marking one of the highest-priced purchases in NBA history.
8. Larry Page
Source: Google
Networth: $126 billion
Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, has held the position of CEO in two distinct periods and presently serves on the board at Alphabet.
Page became well-known as one of the founding investors in Planetary Resources, which was subsequently acquired by ConsenSys. His wealth experienced a notable surge of $11 billion in March 2024, attributed to a 15% increase in Alphabet’s share price, catapulting him into the ranks of the top 10 wealthiest individuals worldwide.
7. Bill Gate
Source: Microsoft, investments
Networth: $131.3 billion
Bill Gates, renowned for co-founding Microsoft, left Harvard University to embark on the development of software for personal computers alongside Paul Allen in 1975.
For 25 years, he led as CEO of Microsoft and retained the position of chairman until 2014. Despite stepping down from the board in 2020, Gates maintained his involvement by offering consultancy services to Microsoft teams. In addition to his involvement with Microsoft, Gates has diversified his investments, which include holdings in Republic Services and Deere & Co. Forbes initially recognized him as a billionaire in 1987.
6. Warren Buffet
Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Networth: $138.6 billion
Warren Buffett, famously known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is celebrated for his exceptional investment acumen. He leads Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate with a diverse portfolio including companies such as Geico and Dairy Queen.
Commencing his investment journey at a young age, Buffett co-founded the Giving Pledge in 2010 alongside Bill Gates, pledging to allocate the majority of his wealth to charitable endeavors.
Buffett has already contributed over $51.5 billion to various charitable foundations, solidifying his position as one of the most philanthropic billionaires globally. In March 2024, his fortune saw a $4 billion increase, largely attributed to the uptick in Berkshire Hathaway shares.
5. Larry Ellison
Source: Oracle
Networth: $155.2 billion
Larry Ellison, a co-founder of Oracle in 1977, held the position of CEO until 2014 and currently serves as the chairman and Chief Technology Officer. Under his leadership, Oracle executed notable acquisitions, such as Sun Microsystems in 2010 for $7.4 billion.
In 2012, Ellison purchased 98% of Lanai Island for $300 million and also made investments in Tesla. Despite his significant achievements, Ellison’s ranking among the world’s wealthiest individuals slipped from fourth to fifth place in February 2024, as he was surpassed by Mark Zuckerberg.
4. Mark Zuckerberg
Source: Meta (Facebook)
Net worth: $170.3 billion
Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, in 2004 while at Harvard University. Since then, it has evolved into the largest social network globally, boasting over 3 billion monthly users and acquiring popular platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. As Meta’s CEO, Zuckerberg led the company through its initial public offering in 2012, retaining approximately 13% ownership.
Together with his wife Priscilla, Zuckerberg pledged 99% of their stock holdings toward initiatives aimed at unlocking human potential, including research into combating diseases. Despite facing fluctuations in his wealth, Zuckerberg reclaimed a position among the top 10 wealthiest individuals in 2023, driven by the rise in Meta’s stock value. However, in March 2024, his fortune experienced a slight decline of $2 billion, attributed to a 3% drop in Meta’s stock price.
3. Elon Musk
Source: Tesla, SpaceX, X (Twitter)
Networth: $195.3 billion
Elon Musk serves as the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), holding a 13% ownership stake in Tesla. In 2022, he acquired X for $44 billion and currently holds a 74% ownership share in the company. Originally from South Africa, Musk relocated to Canada and later to the United States, where he studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2000, he co-founded X.com, which later merged with PayPal.
Musk established SpaceX in 2002 and joined Tesla in 2004, assuming the role of CEO in 2008. He briefly held the title of the world’s richest person in both 2021 and 2023. However, in March 2024, Tesla’s stock experienced a 13% decline, resulting in a reduction of Musk’s fortune by $14 billion.
2. Jeff Bezos
Source: Amazon
Networth: $198.4 billion
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 and served as its CEO until July 2021. In July 2021, he embarked on a space journey aboard a Blue Origin rocket. His wealth saw a nearly $3 billion increase in March 2024, attributed to the rising value of Amazon stock. Prior to Amazon, Bezos worked at D.E. Shaw in New York.
Initially launched as an online bookstore, Amazon later diversified its offerings to include cloud storage and content production for Prime Video. Bezos surpassed Bill Gates as the world’s richest person in July 2017, maintaining this position until 2021. Despite his divorce in 2019, he retained a 10% stake in Amazon, having sold over $27 billion worth of shares since its initial public offering in 1997.
1. Bernard Arnault
Source: LVMH/ luxury goods
On January 31, 2024, Bernard Arnault reclaimed the title of the world’s richest person, surpassing Elon Musk, and retained this position throughout February and March.
As the CEO of LVMH, Arnault leads a conglomerate of prestigious luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Moet & Chandon. Coming from a background in construction, Arnault leveraged his father’s wealth to acquire Christian Dior. Additionally, his children, including Alexandre and Frédéric, play active roles within the LVMH empire.
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