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Top 10 Richest People In The World

Published

1 year ago

June 4, 2024

The combined net worth of the world’s top 10 richest individuals in June 2024 has reached nearly $1.59 trillion, an increase of about $50 billion from the previous month.

Forbes, which has tracked global billionaires since 1987, continues to monitor these dynamic changes through their real-time billionaire tracker.

French business mogul, Bernard Arnault, was the world’s wealthiest person from February until late May 2024.

However, in the latest June 1 release, Tesla and X, CEO, Elon Musk reclaimed the title of the world’s richest person, thanks to his new AI company, xAI, which raised $6 billion, boosting his fortune to over $210 billion.

Bernard Arnault, who held the top spot from February to May, saw his wealth drop to $201.6 billion due to a decline in LVMH shares.

Mark Zuckerberg gained $12.6 billion, reaching $163.8 billion.

Bill Gates remains the ninth richest at $129.4 billion.

Here is a list of the top 10 richest in the world in June 2024:

1. Elon Musk

Elon Musk

Net worth: $210.3 billion
Source: Tesla, SpaceX, X (Twitter)
Age: 52
Residence: Austin, Texas
Citizenship: U.S.
Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and social media company X (formerly Twitter), and founder of xAI. He owns 13 per cent of Tesla and 74 per cent of X, which he bought for $44 billion in October 2022.

Born in South Africa, Musk moved to Canada at 17, and attended Queen’s University and then the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2000, he co-founded PayPal, which was sold to eBay for $1.4 billion in 2002. Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 and joined Tesla in 2004, becoming CEO in 2008.

He became the world’s richest person in 2021, with a peak fortune of $320 billion.

Musk regained the top spot in June 2023, briefly lost it in January 2024, but reclaimed it in May 2024 after xAI raised $6 billion.

2. Arnault-Bernard

Arnault-Bernard

Net worth: $201.6 billion
Source: LVMH/ luxury goods
Age: 75
Residence: Paris
Citizenship: France
Bernard Arnault, CEO and chairman of LVMH fell to the second richest spot in late May 2024, overtaken by Elon Musk.

Arnault built LVMH into the largest luxury goods company, with brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Tiffany & Co.

He used $15 million from his father’s construction fortune to buy Christian Dior. All five of his children work within LVMH, with Alexandre, Frédéric, Delphine, Antoine, and Jean holding significant positions.

Arnault was the world’s richest person for most of the first half of 2023 and again from February to late May 2024.

As of June 1, 2024, his fortune is $7.8 billion less than a month ago due to a dip in LVMH stock.

3. Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos

http://www.wealthx.com
Net worth: $194.7 billion
Source: Amazon
Age: 60
Residence: Miami, Florida
Citizenship: U.S.
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 and served as CEO until July 2021; he remains chairman. In the same month, he went to space on a Blue Origin rocket, a company he founded and heavily funds. His fortune increased by $1.4 billion in May 2024 due to a rise in Amazon stock.

Before Amazon, Bezos worked at hedge fund D.E. Shaw in New York. Amazon started as an online bookseller and expanded into cloud storage and media production. Bezos was the world’s richest person from 2018 to 2021 but dropped to second in 2022.

In 2019, Bezos divorced MacKenzie Scott, who received 4 per cent of Amazon shares while he kept 12 per cent.

He now owns just under 10% of the company, having sold over $27 billion in stock since Amazon went public in 1997. Through Bezos Expeditions, he has invested in companies like Airbnb and Workday.

4. Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg

Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg
Zuckerberg
Net worth: $163.8 billion
Source: Meta (Facebook)
Age: 40
Residence: Palo Alto, California
Citizenship: U.S.
Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook, now Meta Platforms, at Harvard in 2004.

Meta, the world’s largest social network, has over 3 billion monthly users and owns Instagram and WhatsApp.

Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, took the company public in 2012 and owns about 13 per cent of it. He and his wife, Priscilla Chan, pledged 99 per cent of their Meta stock to philanthropic efforts, aiming to develop tools to cure, manage, or prevent all diseases by the century’s end.

Zuckerberg reentered the top 10 richest in the summer of 2023 due to a rise in Meta’s stock. In May 2024, his fortune increased by $12.6 billion as Meta’s stock climbed 8.5 per cent.

5. Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison

Net worth: $146.2 billion
Source: Oracle
Age: 79
Residence: Woodside, California
Citizenship: U.S.
Larry Ellison co-founded Oracle in 1977 and served as CEO until 2014; he is now chairman and chief technology officer. Oracle has made significant acquisitions, including Sun Microsystems for $7.4 billion in 2010.

In 2012, Ellison bought 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai for $300 million. He also owns homes in California and Nevada and invested in Tesla, serving on its board from 2018 to August 2022.

In February 2024, Ellison was overtaken by Mark Zuckerberg and fell to the fifth richest. In May, his net worth increased by $3.4 billion.

6. Larry Page

Larry Ellison

Net worth: $142.9 billion
Larry Page
Google co-founder Larry Page
Source: Google
Age: 51
Residence: Palo Alto, California
Citizenship: U.S.
Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998, serving as CEO from 1998 to 2001 and from 2011 to 2015.

He currently sits on Alphabet’s board and remains a major shareholder.

Additionally, he was an early investor in Planetary Resources, later acquired by ConsenSys.

Page’s wealth surged due to increased Alphabet shares, rising $7.5 billion in May 2024 following a $9 billion jump in April.

7. Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett

Net worth: $137 billion
Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 93
Residence: Omaha, Nebraska
Citizenship: U.S.
Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” heads Berkshire Hathaway, which owns companies like Geico, Duracell, and Dairy Queen.

He began investing at 11, co-founded the Giving Pledge in 2010, and has pledged to donate 99% of his wealth.

His donations, primarily in Berkshire Hathaway stock, total over $51.5 billion, making him the most generous billionaire globally.

In May 2024, his wealth rose by $6 billion, driven by Berkshire Hathaway’s share price increase.

8. Sergey Brin

Sergey Brin

Net worth: $136.9 billion
Source: Google
Age: 50
Residence: Los Altos, California
Citizenship: U.S.
Brin, alongside Larry Page, co-founded Google while pursuing their Stanford computer science PhDs.

He currently sits on Alphabet’s board and holds a significant share. Brin’s wealth surged by $7 billion in May 2024.

Despite semi-retirement, he contributed to Google’s Gemini AI chatbot and was a key contributor to its release.

Brin is the leading individual donor for Parkinson’s disease research, contributing $1.25 billion to various initiatives, including Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s, a collaborative effort led by his team.

9. Bill Gates

Bill Gates

Net worth: $129.4 billion
Source: Microsoft, investments
Age: 68
Residence: Medina, Washington
Citizenship: U.S.
Gates, fascinated by computer programming in his teens, co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, pioneering software for personal computers. He served as CEO for 25 years and remained chairman until 2014.

Despite stepping off the board in 2020, he still advises Microsoft teams part-time. Gates has diverse investments in numerous companies, including Republic Services and Deere & Co., and owns significant farmland in the U.S.

Forbes first recognized Gates as a billionaire in 1987, and he held the title of the world’s richest person from 1995 to 2017, except for brief periods. He has donated over $59 billion to the Gates Foundation, losing the top spot to Jeff Bezos in 2018. Following his divorce from Melinda French Gates in 2021, she received an estimated $10 billion in assets.

In May 2024, Gates’ fortune increased by around $2.4 billion, maintaining his No. 9 rank, though it’s the lowest he’s ranked in decades as others surpass him.

10. Steve Ballmer

Steve Ballmer

Net worth: $123.2 billion
Source: Microsoft, Clippers, investments
Age: 68
Residence: Hunts Point, Washington
Citizenship: U.S.
Ballmer, a Harvard classmate of Bill Gates, joined Microsoft as its 30th employee in 1980 after leaving Stanford’s MBA program. He served as CEO from 2000 to 2014.

After leaving Microsoft, Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion, setting an NBA record. Forbes now estimates the team’s value at $4.65 billion.

Ballmer’s wealth surged by approximately $6 billion last month due to a rise in Microsoft stock. He and his wife, Connie, rank among America’s top 25 philanthropists.

Who is the richest woman in the world?
The richest woman globally is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers from France.

With an estimated net worth of $99 billion as of June 1, 2024, she ranks as the 15th richest person worldwide.

Meyers inherited her wealth from her late mother, primarily through her ownership stake in cosmetics giant L’Oreal, founded by her grandfather.

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PHOTOS: Xi, Putin, Kim At Beijing Parade As China Flaunts Military Might

Published

6 hours ago

September 4, 2025

Editor

In a spectacle of military might, China commemorated the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II with a grand parade on Wednesday, leaving observers worldwide questioning the balance of global power.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, flanked by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, oversaw the event at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The event showcased an array of cutting-edge weapons, including nuclear, artificial intelligence-powered, laser, and robotic weapons, that highlighted China’s rapid advancements in defence technology, a development heavily scrutinised by Western defence officials, according to the BBC.

The parade, dubbed Victory Day, featured over 10,000 troops, hundreds of vehicles, and aircraft flyovers, drawing at least 50,000 spectators and leaders from more than 25 nations, including allies like Iran.

But BBC reported it was notably boycotted by Western countries. According to Al Jazeera, only two European leaders, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, were present.

Xi’s address emphasised China’s “unstoppable” rise and that “the Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies and always forges ahead.”

He insisted the country “should stay firmly on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

China unveils new weapons even Trump can’t overlook

Central to the parade was the unveiling of groundbreaking weapons systems that tell China’s leap in military strength.

Beijing’s power is not just in its numbers, backed by its huge economy, but also by increasing innovation and self-reliance.

Its hypersonic glide and cruise missiles, for example—weapons that travel at above Mach 5—are largely unmatched by anything the US or its allies have in their arsenal.

Its J20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ fighter jet employs 5th generation stealth technology, while its LY-1 directed-energy laser system (DEW), mounted on an eight-wheeled truck and described as the “world’s most powerful” for intercepting missiles and drones.

The JL-1 air-launched ballistic missile also made its first appearance, alongside giant underwater submarine drones, drone boats, unmanned helicopters, and multiple new unmanned aerial vehicles.

Trump, who was notably missing from the grand parade, berated Xi in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday for not recognising US’s contribution to China’s emancipation.

“The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that the United States of America gave to China to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader,” Trump posted.

“Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honoured and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!”

Trump also criticised Putin and Kim for conspiring against his country.

“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.

“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.”

World’s mightiest arsenal: US or China?

Observers view the parade as a direct message to Washington, especially amid trade disputes and regional flashpoints in regions like Taiwan and the South China Sea.

An analyst, famously known as Trademan on X, said on Wednesday, “While the West debates, Beijing fires photons,” adding that the event is a message that China isn’t just playing catch-up but rewriting the rules of engagement.

However, experts believe that while China is fast catching up, the US still maintains an edge in terms of operations.

Speaking with BBC, assistant professor in the military transformations programme at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, Michael Raska, argued the US military has a culture that gives more leeway for units on the ground to make decisions and innovate, “whereas China is top-down.”

“You can have flashy platforms and systems, but they will not move a finger until they receive an order from the top.”

“The US military excels because there’s a bottom-up mission type of culture, where units can make decisions as the situation evolves,” he said.

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Xi, Putin Discuss Immortality, Organ Transplants At Beijing Parade

Published

6 hours ago

September 4, 2025

Editor

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed life-prolonging organ transplants and immortality as they conversed before Beijing’s massive military parade this week, according to comments picked up by state media microphones.

Historic images showed Xi shaking hands and speaking with Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they walked down a red carpet by Tiananmen Square, in scenes viewed as a challenge to US President Donald Trump.

“These days… 70 years old,” Xi said in Mandarin as he walked beside Putin and Kim, footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed.

Xi’s translator, conveying his remarks to Putin, is then heard in Russian quoting a line from a Tang dynasty poem: “In the past, it used to be rare for someone to be older than 70 and these days they say that at 70 one’s still a child.”

Putin then turned towards Xi, speaking while gesturing with his hands, though this is inaudible on the CCTV feed.

The same Chinese translator then relayed Putin’s remarks to Xi.

“With the… development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, people could get younger as they grow older, and may even become immortal,” Putin said, according to the translator.

Xi then spoke again in Mandarin as the camera cut away: “Predictions are, in this century, it may be… possible to live to 150 years old.”

Putin confirmed the exchange during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“Ah, I think it was when we were going to the parade that the Chairman spoke about this,” he told reporters, referring to Xi.

“Modern means — both health improvement and medical means, and then even all kinds of surgical ones related to organ replacement — allow humanity to hope that active life will continue not as it does today,” Putin added.

The Chinese and Russian leaders, both 72, have not expressed any intention of stepping down.

While Xi’s predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, relinquished power after 10 years in office, he abolished term limits in 2018, and in 2023, he was handed a third term as Chinese president.

AFP

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US Commits $32.5m To Support Food Security In Nigeria

Published

22 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The United States Government has committed $32.5m to the United Nations World Food Programme to support food and nutrition assistance for hundreds of thousands of people affected by conflict in Nigeria.

According to a statement released by the US Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, the funding will enable WFP Nigeria to reach approximately 764,205 vulnerable individuals in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country.

These areas have been severely impacted by ongoing insecurity and displacement, with millions struggling to access necessities.

The assistance package includes general food distributions as well as targeted nutritional support.

Among the beneficiaries are 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, and 43,235 children who will receive specialised nutrition support through electronic food vouchers, according to the statement.

“World Food Program Nigeria, with US Government’s contribution of $32.5m, will provide food assistance and nutrition support to internally displaced persons across conflict-affected areas.

“With the US Government’s donation, the World Food Programme Nigeria will provide food and nutrition assistance to 764,205 beneficiaries across Northeast and Northwest Nigeria.

“This includes complementary nutrition top-ups for 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls and 43,235 children through electronic food vouchers,” the statement read.

On December 18, 2024, PUNCH Online reported that the United States Agency for International Development has denounced recent media reports misrepresenting US agricultural initiatives in Nigeria, stating that its programmes operate transparently and align with the country’s laws.

In a statement issued by the US Mission in Nigeria, USAID highlighted the significant achievements of its agricultural collaboration with Nigeria, which it claimed has supported over five million Nigerian farmers since 2019.

The agency maintained it has boosted food production and strengthened rural economies across the country through its efforts.