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Top 10 Countries With The Most Billionaires In 2024

Published

2 years ago

October 26, 2024

Editor

Billionaire wealth is at an all-time high with some countries boasting of close to 800 billionaires and some struggle to count 20

Forbes’ 38th list shows 2,781 billionaires with a combined $14.2 trillion. This is 141 more billionaires and $2 trillion more wealth than last year.

In 2023, the list saw $900 billion in added wealth, and many of the world’s richest have grown even wealthier.

The U.S. leads with tech and finance billionaires. China, India, Germany, and Russia follow with wealth in tech, resources, and manufacturing. In Europe, countries like the UK, France, and Italy have their wealth mainly in finance, luxury, and industry.

Here’s a look at the top billionaire countries and some of their top billionaires.

United States

Leading globally, the U.S. has around 813 billionaires. Many come from technology, finance, and entertainment industries. Some of its billionaires include:

Elon Musk ($245.8 billion)– Founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures, Musk’s fortune has soared due to innovations in tech and space.

Jeff Bezos ($206.6 billion)– He is the founder of Amazon and his fortune expanded from the e-commerce and cloud computing empire.

Warren Buffett ($145 billion) – Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffett leads Berkshire Hathaway with investments in diverse sectors.

Bill Gates ($106.6 billion) – He is the co-founder of Microsoft.

China

China follows closely with about 406 billionaires, thanks to its booming tech and manufacturing sectors. Some of its billionaires are:

Zhong Shanshan ($52 billion) – He is the founder of Nongfu Spring, China’s largest bottled water company, with a fortune made through consumer goods.

Ma Huateng (Pony Ma) ($47.4 billion) – He is the founder of Tencent, the social media and gaming giant, which has contributed significantly to his wealth.

Jack Ma ($25.8 billion) – Co-founder of Alibaba, China’s leading e-commerce platform, Jack Ma is a popular name among Chinese billionaires.

India

India has seen rapid growth in its billionaire count which stands at 200, driven by industries such as technology, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals. Here are some of its billionaires:

Mukesh Ambani ($107.7 billion) – He is the chairman of Reliance Industries and his wealth spans energy, telecom, and retail.

Gautam Adani ($80.4 billion) – He is known for his conglomerate Adani Group, and his wealth comes from infrastructure, energy, and ports.

Shiv Nadar ($41 billion) – Founder of HCL Technologies, Nadar is among the tech billionaires pushing India’s economy forward.

Germany

Germany’s billionaire wealth is strongly rooted in manufacturing and technology, with some billionaires maintaining family-held businesses. The country has approximately 132 billionaires. Some of their billionaires are:

Beate Heister & Karl Albrecht Jr. ($25.9 billion) – Heirs of the Aldi supermarket chain, the Albrecht family has long been part of Germany’s wealth.

Dieter Schwarz ($37 billion) – Owner of Lidl and Kaufland, Schwarz is a major player in European grocery retail.

Susanne Klatten ($22.3 billion) – She is a key shareholder in BMW and an heir to the pharmaceutical company Altana.

Russia

Russia’s billionaires are primarily concentrated in energy, metals, and mining industries, with wealth tied closely to natural resources. The country boasts of 120 billionaires.

Vladimir Potanin ($23.7 billion) – A leading shareholder in Norilsk Nickel, Potanin’s wealth is deeply rooted in mining and metals.

Leonid Mikhelson ($27.4 billion) – He is the CEO of Novatek and one of Russia’s wealthiest, thanks to his investments in natural gas.

Alexey Mordashov ($25.5 billion) – He is the owner of Severstal and his wealth is based on steel and energy.

Italy

Italy’s billionaires are often tied to fashion, infrastructure, and manufacturing. The country currently has 73 billionaires, and some of the popular ones include:

Giovanni Ferrero (43.8 billion)– Chairman of Ferrero Group, known for Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, his wealth is rooted in the confectionery business.

Leonardo Del Vecchio ($25 billion) – Founder of Luxottica, the world’s largest eyewear company, Del Vecchio has long been a staple of Italian wealth.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is home to 67 billionaires with businesses spanning across real estate, finance, and technology. Some of its billionaires are:

Li Ka-shing ($36.8 billion) – Known as “Superman” in Hong Kong, his wealth stems from infrastructure, real estate, and telecommunications.

Lee Shau Kee ($29.3 billion) – Founder of Henderson Land Development, Lee is a major figure in Hong Kong’s real estate scene.

Henry Cheng ($28.9 billion) – Chairman of New World Development, Cheng’s fortune is rooted in real estate and infrastructure.

Canada

Canada’s 67 billionaires are primarily involved in media, e-commerce, and real estate. Here are some:

David Thomson & family ($61.3 billion) – Owners of Thomson Reuters, the Thomson family are leaders in media and information services.

Joseph Tsai ($9.7 billion) – He is the co-founder of Alibaba and owner of the Brooklyn Nets. Tsai represents Canadian investments in tech and sports.

Jim Pattison ($9.3 billion) – His conglomerate, the Jim Pattison Group, spans grocery, media, and automotive services.

United Kingdom

The UK’s billionaire population of 55 comes from various sectors, including finance, real estate, and retail. Some of the popular ones include:

James Ratcliffe ($16.5 billion) – Founder of chemical giant Ineos, Ratcliffe is among the wealthiest in the UK.

Hugh Grosvenor ($12.8 billion)– Known as the Duke of Westminster, Grosvenor’s wealth comes from extensive real estate holdings.

Sir Richard Branson ($6.5 billion) – Founder of the Virgin Group, Branson’s wealth spans industries from music to travel.

France

France’s billionaire population is largely in luxury goods, a sector in which it leads globally. France has 53 billionaires, and some of them are:

Bernard Arnault ($177.9 billion) – Chairman of LVMH, Arnault is often among the world’s wealthiest due to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Sephora.

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers ($87.2 billion)– Heir to the L’Oréal empire, she is among the wealthiest women globally.

Francois Pinault ($20.9 billion)– Founder of Kering, which owns luxury brands like Gucci and Saint Laurent, Pinault’s fortune is rooted in high-end fashion.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

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Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

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US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.