Heading into 2022, the 10 wealthiest individuals in the world are all worth more than $100 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Some of these individuals, like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, have been worth $100 billion for some time: Gates first reached the mark in 1999, while Bezos did it in 2017. But most of the others are newcomers to the 12-digit club.
Combined, the 10 richest billionaires added $402.17 billion to their net worths in 2021. They were led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who this year became the world's richest man and briefly saw his net worth top $300 billion. He added $121 billion to his net worth in 2021 — just shy of the $140 billion he added in 2020.
As 2021 winds to a close, here's how much the 10 richest people in the world added to their fortunes, according toBloomberg's Billionaires Index. (All numbers were accurate as of the end of trading on Dec. 29.)
1. Elon Musk: $277 billion (+$121 billion)
BRITTA PEDERSEN | AFP | Getty Images
The Tesla co-founder, who this year changed his title from CEO to "Technoking of Tesla" in a March regulatory filing, has enjoyed a massive wealth increase thanks to the rapid growth of his electric automaker. Tesla shares are up about 60% this year, and the company hit a $1 trillion market cap for the first time in October.
Musk has recently been selling millions of shares of Tesla to pay a reported $12 billion tax bill associated with a stock option package he received in 2012.
2. Jeff Bezos: $195 billion (+$5 billion)
Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
The former world's richest man did not add nearly as much to his net worth as Musk, but Bezos is still leaving 2021 with $5 billion more than he entered it with.
The 57-year-old stepped down from his role as CEO of Amazon in July, and has said he is spending more time on initiatives like the Bezos Earth Fund, his Blue Origin spaceship company, The Washington Post and the Amazon Day 1 Fund.
3. Bernard Arnault: $176 billion (+$61 billion)
NICHOLAS KAMM | AFP | Getty Images
The CEO of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which owns brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Givenchy, added $61 billion to his net worth in 2021. The 72-year-old holds the title of Europe's richest man.
4. Bill Gates: $139 billion (+$7 billion)
Chesnot | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Despite giving away tens of billions of dollars over the past few decades, Gates' wealth continues to grow, thanks in part to the strong performance of shares of Microsoft, the company he co-founded and still owns about 1% of.
Gates has long since given up the reins at Microsoft and spends most of his time with his charitable foundation. In 2021, Gates also divorced his wife Melinda French Gates after 25 years of marriage.
5. Larry Page: $130 billion (+$47 billion)
Larry Page
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
The Google co-founder added $47 billion to his fortune thanks to the strong performance of Alphabet in 2021, which surpassed the $2 trillion market cap in November and was recentlycrowned Big Tech stock of the yearby CNBC. Page is no longer CEO of Alphabet, but remains a board member.
6. Mark Zuckerberg: $128 billion (+$24 billion)
CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg walks to lunch following a session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images
The only member of the top 10 under the age of 40, 37-year-old Zuckerberg's wealth increased by $24 billion this year. Zuckerberg owns a 13% stake in Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram of which he is CEO — which has grown in value by more than 20% this year.
7. Sergey Brin: $125 billion (+$45 billion)
Kelly Sullivan | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
Google's other co-founder's net worth grew by $45 billion, bringing it above $100 billion for the first time. The 48-year-old owns about 38 million shares in Alphabet and sits on the company's board.
8. Steve Ballmer: $122 billion (+$41 billion)
Steven Ferdman | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
The former Microsoft CEO and owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers is $41 billion richer at the end of 2021 than he was at the start of the year. Ballmer's net worth benefitted from the popularity of tech stocks like Microsoft, which this year grew in value by more than 50%.
9. Larry Ellison: $109 billion (+$29 billion)
Kimberly White | Getty Images
Oracle had its second-best biggest gain in 20 years earlier this month, and chairman and founder Larry Ellison reaped the rewards. The 77-year-old broke into the $100 billion club this year, adding $29 billion to his net worth thanks to his firm's strong earnings.
10. Warren Buffett: $109 billion (+$21 billion)
J. Kempin | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway earlier this year revealed that he is "halfway" toward his stated goal of giving away the vast majority of his fortune, but the performance of his company's stock isn't helping. This year, 91-year-old Oracle of Omaha added $21 billion to a fortune he has described as "an almost incomprehensible sum."
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Combined, the 10 richest billionaires added $402.17 billion to their net worths in 2021. They were led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who this year became the world's richest man and briefly saw his net worth top $300 billion. He added $121 billion to his net worth in 2021 — just shy of the $140 billion he added in 2020.
Who are the 10 richest people in the world? ›
Top 10 richest people in the world as of May 1, 2024
- Bernard Arnault. Net worth: $209.4 billion. ...
- Elon Musk. Net worth: $199.6 billion. ...
- Jeff Bezos. Net worth: $193.3 billion. ...
- Mark Zuckerberg. Net worth: $151.2 billion. ...
- Larry Ellison. Net worth: $142.8 billion. ...
- Larry Page. Net worth: $135.4 billion. ...
- Warren Buffett. ...
- Sergey Brin.
Bezos was the world's richest person on Forbes' list of the World's Billionaires from 2018 through 2021; he dropped to second richest on the 2022 billionaires list. For the month, of March he and Musk flip-flopped the No. 2 and No. 3 ranks at least a dozen times due to fluctuating stock prices for Amazon and Tesla.
Who is the real richest person in the world? ›
To tally their wealth, Forbes used stock prices and exchange rates from March 8, 2024. Bernard Arnault and his family are at number one, with a net worth of $233 billion. Arnault is head of LVMH, a luxury fashion and cosmetics conglomerate in France.
What is the net worth of the top 1%? ›
In the U.S., it may take you $5.81 million to be in the top 1%, but it takes a minimum net worth of $30 million to be considered among the ultra-high net worth crowd. As of the end of 2023, this ultra-high net worth population is on the rise, reaching 626,000 globally, up from just over 600,000 a year earlier.
Who is the world's first richest man? ›
Bernard Arnault & Family
Bernard Arnault, the richest person in the world, is the CEO and chairman at Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world's largest luxury goods company encompassing approximately 70 renowned fashion and cosmetics brands.
How much money does Taylor Swift have? ›
Swift's income streams include revenue from her concert tour ticket sales, music catalog, streaming deals and record sales. She also owns numerous pricey properties across the U.S. Both Bloomberg and Forbes pin her net worth at an estimated $1.1 billion on the low end, based on analyses of her fortune.
Are there any trillionaires? ›
As of today, no billionaire is within striking distance of becoming a trillionaire.
Who is the youngest billionaire? ›
A 19-year-old Brazilian student, Livia Voigt, claims the title of the world's youngest billionaire, surpassing Italian teen Clemente Del Vecchio.
Who is the richest girl in the world? ›
No.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, 70, has been deemed the richest woman in the entire world with a net work of $99.5 billion in 2024, according to Forbes. She owes it to the widely known cosmetic care company called L'Oreal, which was founded by her grandfather.
The pop star's record-breaking Eras Tour helped cement her status among a rare economic class, according to the analysis. Swift is one of the few people to reach billionaire status almost exclusively from her music.
Who is the no. 1 richest actor in the world? ›
List of Top 10 Richest Actors in the World:-
| S. No. | Name | Net Worth (in U.S. Dollar) |
|---|
| 1 | Brock Pierce | $ 2 Billion |
| 2 | Tyler Perry | $1 Billion |
| 3 | Jerry Seinfeld | $950 Million |
| 4 | Dwayne Johnson | $800 Million |
6 more rowsApr 23, 2024
- Philip Anschutz. Philip Anschutz is the man behind Coachella. ...
- Frederick Barclay. ...
- Cargill-MacMillan family. ...
- Mars family. ...
- Ike Perlmutter. ...
- Reimann family. ...
- 7 and 8.
The income of those in the top 1% is many multiples above that of the average American. According to a Congressional Budget Office report, you need at least $652,657 in income per year to make the top 1%, but this varies by where you live.
How much wealth do you need to join the richest 1% around the world? ›
The 1% Club
| Countries | Region | Wealth (USD) |
|---|
| 🇺🇸 U.S. | N. America | $5,813,000 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Asia | $5,227,000 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | Europe | $4,761,000 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Oceania | $4,673,000 |
13 more rowsMar 6, 2024
How much do you need to earn to be in the top 5% income bracket? For those in the top 5%, the figure rises even more. According to the same research, those in the top 5% earned an average of $335,891 in 2021. This is an increase of around $19,000 from the previous year.
What is the richest country in the world? ›
World's Richest Countries, by GDP per Capita
| Rank | Country | GDP per Capita 2022 |
|---|
| 1 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | $126,426 |
| 2 | 🇧🇲 Bermuda | $118,846 |
| 3 | 🇳🇴 Norway | $106,149 |
| 4 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $92,101 |
22 more rowsFeb 4, 2024
Top 2% wealth: The top 2% of Americans have a net worth of about $2.472 million, aligning closely with the surveyed perception of wealth. Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.
What does Bernard Arnault own? ›
What brands does Arnault own?
| Fashion and leather | Jewelry and watches | Wine and spirits |
|---|
| Louis Vuitton | Tiffany & Co. | Belvedere |
| Christian Dior | Chaumet | Dom Pérignon |
| Marc Jacobs | Bulgari | Hennessy |
| Fendi | TAG Heuer | Château Cheval Blanc |
1 more rowApr 2, 2024
The total wealth of Mexico's 14 ultra-rich individuals has almost doubled since the start of the [Covid-19] pandemic. In particular, that of Carlos Slim, the richest man on the continent, who has almost as much wealth as around 63.8 million Mexicans."
