Record Number of Billionaires in 2024
A recent report by Forbes has revealed that the number of billionaires in the world has reached an all-time high in 2024, with a total of 2,781 individuals making the prestigious list. This marks an increase of 141 billionaires compared to the previous year.
The combined wealth of these billionaires has also seen a significant rise, now totaling $14.2 trillion, which is $2 trillion more than in 2023. The 2024 list has broken previous records, with 26 more billionaires joining the ranks and their total net worth increasing by $1.1 trillion.
Notably, the top 20 individuals on the list have seen the largest gains, adding $700 billion to their combined wealth since the previous year. The United States leads the way with a record 813 billionaires, followed by China with 473 billionaires and India with 200 billionaires, a record number for the country.
According to Forbes, the calculations for the billionaires' wealth were based on stock prices and exchange rates as of March 8, 2024. Topping the list is Bernard Arnault and his family, with a staggering net worth of $233 billion. Arnault, who heads LVMH, a luxury fashion and cosmetics conglomerate in France, is a regular feature in the top ranks of the world's wealthiest individuals.
Elon Musk, the former richest person globally, now holds the second position on the list, boasting a net worth of $195 billion. Musk, known for founding Tesla and SpaceX, made headlines by acquiring Twitter for $44 million in 2022, rebranding it as X.
Forbes estimates that Musk currently owns around 74% of the social media company, which has seen a decrease in value by nearly 70% since the acquisition. This, coupled with factors such as low Tesla earnings, has resulted in Musk's net worth dropping below $200 billion on multiple occasions over the past two years.
Securing the third spot is Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of $195 billion, followed by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg at $177 billion.
Other notable individuals on the list include:
- 100. Rupert Murdoch, the founder of Fox News, and his family, with a combined net worth of $19.5 billion
- 137. Jerry Jones, the General Manager and President of the Dallas Cowboys, worth $13.9 billion
- 1,330. Jay-Z, with a net worth of $2.5 billion
- 1,851. Kim Kardashian, holding a net worth of $1.7 billion
- 2,545. Taylor Swift, with a net worth of $1.1 billion
Claiming the title of the wealthiest woman on the billionaires list is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the granddaughter of L'Oreal's founder, positioned at No. 15 with a net worth of $99.5 billion.
Following Bett are the top four wealthiest women:
- 21. Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, with a net worth of $72.3 billion
- 23. Julia Koch and her three children, who inherited a stake in Koch Industries from her late husband and have a net worth of $64.3 billion
- 35. Jacqueline Mars, owner of one-third of Mars, a candy and food company, with a net worth of $38.5 billion
- 43. MacKenzie Scott, former spouse of Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of $35.6 billion
