As of January 1, 2025, the total wealth of the world’s 10 richest individuals has increased to $1.9 trillion, up from $1.8 trillion the month before, showcasing the ongoing rise of the billionaire class. Seven of these billionaires have seen their fortunes grow.
Since its inception in 1987, Forbes has meticulously documented global billionaires, noting 2,781 in its April 2024 list. The US remains at the forefront of this wealth index with a record 813 billionaires, followed by China with 473 and India with 200, making it third in the ranking.
Elon Musk begins 2025 as the wealthiest individual globally, boasting a net worth of $433.9 billion, primarily fueled by SpaceX’s impressive valuation of $350 billion. Since December 1, 2024, Musk’s fortune has surged by $91 billion, reinforcing SpaceX’s status as the most valuable private company worldwide. Musk’s diverse business ventures extend beyond SpaceX, including leadership roles at Tesla, ownership stakes in the social media platform X, AI company xAI, and the tunnelling firm Boring Co.
Mark Zuckerberg has ascended to the third richest person globally, with a net worth increase of 4% to $217.7 billion, surpassing Oracle founder Larry Ellison. This increase aligns with Meta’s robust stock performance, contrasting with Oracle’s modest decline.
Additionally, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has ascended into the top 10 richest individuals, claiming the 10th spot with a net worth estimated at $118 billion. This rise is attributed to a remarkable 171% increase in Nvidia’s stock price, which now ranks it as the world’s second-most valuable tech company.
The top 10 richest people on Earth as of January 1, 2025:
| Serial No. | Name | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | $421.2 billion |
| 2 | Jeff Bezos | $233.5 billion |
| 3 | Larry Ellison | $210 billion |
| 4 | Bernard Arnault | $192 billion |
| 5 | Bill Gates | $170 billion |
| 6 | Warren Buffett | $159 billion |
| 7 | Mark Zuckerberg | $149 billion |
| 8 | Sergey Brin | $139 billion |
| 9 | Larry Page | $134 billion |
| 10 | Jensen Huang | $118 billion |
