In these times of globalization and advanced technology, the accumulation of wealth has reached monumental proportions, and the growth in the number of millionaires is proof of this. Yet there are true titans of the financial world who manage to exceed the "limits" and amass fortunes with figures that are simply unimaginable to some, especially when compared with the per capita income of most countries. They are exactly who we will discuss in this article.
From visionary entrepreneurs to heirs of business empires, each of these individuals has a unique story of success, strategy, and, in some cases, controversy. We selected the 10 people with the largest fortunes on the planet and explain a little more about their paths.
1 - Bernard Arnault (U$$ 233 billion)
Frenchman Bernard Arnault, CEO and chairman of LVMH, built a global luxury empire composed of approximately 70 renowned fashion and cosmetics brands. They include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora. In early 2021, LVMH further consolidated its position by acquiring iconic jewelry company Tiffany & Co. for the monumental sum of US$15.8 billion.
Arnault was the richest person on the planet for most of the first half of 2023. He briefly fell to second place, overtaken by Elon Musk, but regained the top position during that period, chiefly because of the rise in LVMH's share price.
2 - Elon Musk (US$ 195 billion)
Elon Musk is the second-richest man in the world, with a fortune valued at US$195 billion. He is Tesla's cofounder and CEO and serves as CEO and chief engineer at Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a company prominent in developing rockets for space launches. The South African businessman also owns the social network X, formerly Twitter, where he became involved in a recent controversy with Brazilian authorities.
In 2020, Tesla's shares experienced a meteoric rise, recording an impressive 740% increase that propelled Musk even higher in wealth rankings. His company is considered one of the most influential and significant in the S&P 500 index, which measures the market value of American companies.
3 - Jeff Bezos (U$$ 194 billion)
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos rounds out the podium of the "billionaires' club." Bezos launched Amazon as a modest online bookstore in 1994 and has since transformed it into an e-commerce giant offering a wide range of products, from food to medicine. The company expanded beyond retail into fields such as cloud computing and other areas of technology.
In July 2021, Bezos stepped down as the company's CEO but remains active as executive chairman. He also dedicates himself to side projects such as Blue Origin, a spaceflight services company that recently completed a historic, successful crewed flight with Bezos aboard.
4 - Mark Zuckerberg (US$ 177 billion)
The founder of Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, earned most of his fortune through the success and popularity of his creation. While following the path to becoming one of the world's richest people, Mark Zuckerberg rejected purchase offers for his venture and chose to invest in Facebook's expansion, later acquiring growing networks such as Instagram and WhatsApp.
His entry on the list of the richest is driven by the increase in Meta's share price, consolidating his success and influence in the business world.
5 - Larry Ellison (US$ 141 billion)
Larry Ellison is one of the most successful minds in information technology. He is the cofounder and former chairman of Oracle, a company focused on technological solutions involving data analysis. Although he left the company's leadership in 2014, he is not completely removed from either its management or shareholding control. According to Bloomberg, the businessman currently holds around 42% of the company's shares.
6 - Warren Buffet (US$ 133 billion)
Buffet is one of the biggest names in the global financial market and is considered the greatest investor of all time. He is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, having purchased his first shares in the company in 1962. Its investment portfolio includes interests in insurance, energy distribution, railroads, and consumer products.
In addition to being a magnate, Buffet is also a major advocate of philanthropy and has donated around US$41 billion to charity over his lifetime.
7 - Bill Gates (US$ 128 billion)
Bill Gates, cofounder of Microsoft, accumulated his fortune primarily by creating and leading the world's most influential technology company. He revolutionized the computer industry by introducing the Windows operating system and Office productivity suite. Through his entrepreneurial spirit, strategic vision, and focus on innovation, Gates built an empire that made him one of the richest people on the planet.
Beyond Microsoft, Bill Gates also has investments in a variety of companies and sectors, ranging from railroads to agricultural equipment and energy services.
8 - Steve Ballmer (US$ 121 billion)
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's former CEO, earned his fortune mainly through his long association with the technology company. He was one of the first employees to join the company in the early 1980s. After two decades of rising through different positions within the company, Steve Ballmer became CEO in 2000.
In 2014, Ballmer left his leadership role at the company and has since focused on his position as owner of the NBA basketball team Los Angeles Clippers.
9 - Mukesh Ambani (US$ 116 billion)
Mukesh Ambani is an Indian magnate who serves as chairman and principal shareholder of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), a powerful multinational operating in petrochemicals, energy, natural resources, telecommunications, and retail. Under his leadership, Reliance grew to become one of India's most valuable companies and one of the world's largest in terms of market capitalization.
In addition to his remarkable leadership ability and entrepreneurial vision, Ambani is also recognized for innovations in the telecommunications sector, especially the launch of Reliance Jio, which revolutionized India's telecommunications market.
10 - Larry Page (US$ 114 billion)
Larry Page is one of Google's founders. His fortune was built primarily through the development and growth of Google, which became the internet's leading search engine and expanded into a wide range of services and products, including online advertising, software, hardware, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous cars.
He later expanded his investments to include companies dedicated to space exploration, asteroid mining, and autonomous aerial vehicles. In 2021, his fortune recorded an increase of nearly 50%, propelling him to a prominent position on the list of billionaires.
