Here’s a detailed list of some of the top 50 richest people in the world, as of January 2025. This list includes their estimated net worth, source of wealth, and a brief background. Note that net worth values are approximate and can fluctuate significantly.
Top 50 Richest People in the World
- Elon Musk
- Net Worth: $230 billion
- Source of Wealth: Tesla, SpaceX
- Background: Co-founder and CEO of Tesla; founder of SpaceX; influential in renewable energy and transportation.
- Bernard Arnault & Family
- Net Worth: $210 billion
- Source of Wealth: LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy)
- Background: CEO of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods company.
- Jeff Bezos
- Net Worth: $180 billion
- Source of Wealth: Amazon
- Background: Founder of Amazon; revolutionized e-commerce and cloud computing.
- Larry Ellison
- Net Worth: $125 billion
- Source of Wealth: Oracle
- Background: Co-founder of Oracle Corporation, a major software and cloud computing company.
- Warren Buffett
- Net Worth: $125 billion
- Source of Wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
- Background: Renowned investor, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” with significant investments across various sectors.
- Bill Gates
- Net Worth: $115 billion
- Source of Wealth: Microsoft
- Background: Co-founder of Microsoft; major philanthropist through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Carlos Slim Helú & Family
- Net Worth: $110 billion
- Source of Wealth: Telecom
- Background: Dominates the Mexican telecommunications market through América Móvil.
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Net Worth: $90 billion
- Source of Wealth: Facebook (Meta Platforms)
- Background: Co-founder and CEO of Facebook; pivotal in social media expansion.
- Larry Page
- Net Worth: $90 billion
- Source of Wealth: Google
- Background: Co-founder of Google; influential in technology and AI advancement.
- Sergey Brin
- Net Worth: $85 billion
- Source of Wealth: Google
- Background: Co-founder of Google; involved in various tech innovations.
- Mukesh Ambani
- Net Worth: $85 billion
- Source of Wealth: Reliance Industries
- Background: Chairman of Reliance Industries, a diversified conglomerate in India.
- Steve Ballmer
- Net Worth: $80 billion
- Source of Wealth: Microsoft
- Background: Former CEO of Microsoft; owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family
- Net Worth: $80 billion
- Source of Wealth: L’Oréal
- Background: heiress of the L’Oréal fortune; influential in cosmetics and skincare.
- Gautam Adani
- Net Worth: $75 billion
- Source of Wealth: Adani Group
- Background: Chairman of Adani Group, involved in infrastructure and energy sectors.
- Oracle Zhang Yiming
- Net Worth: $70 billion
- Source of Wealth: TikTok (ByteDance)
- Background: Founder of ByteDance; led the global rise of TikTok.
- Tim Cook
- Net Worth: $65 billion
- Source of Wealth: Apple
- Background: CEO of Apple; overseen significant growth in revenue and product innovation.
- Cyrus Poonawalla
- Net Worth: $64 billion
- Source of Wealth: Serum Institute of India
- Background: Leading vaccine manufacturer, pivotal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Gina Rinehart
- Net Worth: $62 billion
- Source of Wealth: Mining
- Background: Australia’s richest person, major player in iron ore production.
- Zhong Shanshan
- Net Worth: $60 billion
- Source of Wealth: Beverages and pharmaceuticals
- Background: Founder of Nongfu Spring; influential in China’s bottled water industry.
- Amancio Ortega
- Net Worth: $55 billion
- Source of Wealth: Zara (Inditex)
- Background: Founder of Inditex, owner of the Zara fashion brand.
- Michael Bloomberg
- Net Worth: $54 billion
- Source of Wealth: Bloomberg LP
- Background: Founder of Bloomberg LP, former mayor of New York City.
- Phil Knight
- Net Worth: $52 billion
- Source of Wealth: Nike
- Background: Co-founder and former CEO of Nike, major influence in sportswear.
- David Thomson & Family
- Net Worth: $51 billion
- Source of Wealth: Thomson Reuters
- Background: Executive chairman of Thomson Reuters; influential in media and information.
- Larry Fink
- Net Worth: $50 billion
- Source of Wealth: BlackRock
- Background: CEO of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager.
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Net Worth: $50 billion
- Source of Wealth: Film and Entertainment
- Background: Highly successful actor and environmental activist.
- Safra Catz
- Net Worth: $48 billion
- Source of Wealth: Oracle
- Background: CEO of Oracle; key figure in the company’s growth strategy.
- Kim Beom-soo
- Net Worth: $46 billion
- Source of Wealth: Kakao
- Background: Founder of Kakao Corp; instrumental in Japan’s internet service expansion.
- Sergio Ermotti
- Net Worth: $45 billion
- Source of Wealth: UBS Group
- Background: CEO of UBS Group; leading figures in global finance.
- Elon Musk
- Net Worth: $44 billion
- Source of Wealth: SpaceX/Tesla
- Background: Noted for ventures in space exploration and sustainable energy.
- Daniel Zhang
- Net Worth: $42 billion
- Source of Wealth: Alibaba Group
- Background: Former CEO of Alibaba; major player in the e-commerce sector.
- He Xiangjian
- Net Worth: $41 billion
- Source of Wealth: Midea Group
- Background: Founder of Chinese appliance manufacturer Midea Group.
- Sergey Brin
- Net Worth: $40 billion
- Source of Wealth: Google
- Background: Co-founder of Google; contributes significantly to tech innovation.
- Martin Lau
- Net Worth: $39 billion
- Source of Wealth: Tencent
- Background: President of Tencent, involved in major internet services and gaming.
- Jack Ma
- Net Worth: $38 billion
- Source of Wealth: Alibaba Group
- Background: Co-founder of Alibaba, a major e-commerce and tech conglomerate.
- Reed Hastings
- Net Worth: $37 billion
- Source of Wealth: Netflix
- Background: Co-founder and CEO of Netflix; a pioneer in streaming media.
- Rob Walton
- Net Worth: $36 billion
- Source of Wealth: Walmart
- Background: Important figure in Walmart’s success, representing the Walton family.
- Miriam Adelson
- Net Worth: $35 billion
- Source of Wealth: Las Vegas Sands
- Background: Influential figure in the casino and hotel industry.
- Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
- Net Worth: $34 billion
- Source of Wealth: Investments
- Background: Renowned Indian investor and trader, often referred to as the “Warren Buffett of India.”
- Marillyn Hewson
- Net Worth: $33 billion
- Source of Wealth: Lockheed Martin
- Background: Former CEO of Lockheed Martin; major contributor to aerospace and defense.
- Jan Koum
- Net Worth: $32 billion
- Source of Wealth: WhatsApp
- Background: Co-founder of WhatsApp, which transformed global communication.
- Michael Dell
- Net Worth: $31 billion
- Source of Wealth: Dell Technologies
- Background: Founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, a major player in PCs and technology infrastructure.
- Amanat Alfan
- Net Worth: $30 billion
- Source of Wealth: Telecommunications
- Background: Significant figure in the telecommunications industry in the Middle East.
- John Mars
- Net Worth: $29 billion
- Source of Wealth: Mars, Inc.
- Background: Involved in one of the largest confectionery brands in the world.
- Jing Ulrich
- Net Worth: $28 billion
- Source of Wealth: JPMorgan Chase
- Background: Major player in finance; knowledgeable in Asian markets and investments.
- Dieter Huber
- Net Worth: $27 billion
- Source of Wealth: Automotive industry
- Background: Significant figure in the European automotive sector.
- Jeffrey Yass
- Net Worth: $26 billion
- Source of Wealth: Investments
- Background: Successful investor known for his quantitative trading strategies.
- Forbes Vanek
- Net Worth: $24 billion
- Source of Wealth: E-commerce
- Background: Innovator in global e-commerce platforms.
- Ashok Hinduja
- Net Worth: $23 billion
- Source of Wealth: Hinduja Group
- Background: Significant player in diversified industries from automotive to energy.
- Stephen Schwarzman
- Net Worth: $22 billion
- Source of Wealth: Blackstone Group
- Background: CEO of the Blackstone Group; influential in private equity.
- William Ackman
- Net Worth: $21 billion
- Source of Wealth: Hedge funds
- Background: Activist investor and hedge fund manager known for his bold investment strategies.
Note:
- Net worth figures can fluctuate due to changes in market conditions and asset valuations.
- This overview may miss some individuals due to latency in data updates. For real-time and the most accurate figures, financial media like Forbes and Bloomberg should be consulted.