The Only 15 People on Earth Whose Wealth Is Greater Than $100 Billion
As per Forbes, in April 2025, there were only 15 people alive with more than $100 billion in the bank, and every one of them had a story that was as wild as their net worth. These names are shaping global industries, shifting markets, and making daily headlines. Let’s read about them below.
Elon Musk
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The Tesla and SpaceX boss made headlines in 2021 by briefly topping $300 billion, the highest net worth ever recorded. Elon Musk owns about 13% of Tesla, which is still his main source of wealth. He also runs Neuralink and The Boring Company. In 2022, he paid $44 billion for Twitter.
Jeff Bezos
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Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 and owns around 10% of the company, which powers his $190 billion fortune. After stepping down as CEO in 2021, he focused on Blue Origin and philanthropy. He bought a $500 million superyacht in 2023 and still earns over $8 billion annually just from Amazon stock gains.
Bernard Arnault
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The LVMH chairman holds a portfolio of over 70 luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton and Moët & Chandon. Bernard Arnault passed $200 billion in net worth in 2023. He controls around 48% of LVMH through a family holding company, which keeps the wealth in the family.
Mark Zuckerberg
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Mark Zuckerberg took a major hit in 2022 but bounced back thanks to Meta’s focus on AI and the Metaverse. He still owns about 13% of Meta, which includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In 2024, his wealth climbed back above $120 billion, fueled by a market surge and Meta’s rebound in advertising revenue.
Larry Ellison
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Oracle’s co-founder owns more than 40% of the company, a tech giant in cloud computing and databases. Larry Ellison’s wealth crossed $130 billion as Oracle stock rose steadily in 2023. He also owns the Hawaiian island of Lanai and invested in Tesla.
Warren Buffett
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Still living in the same modest Omaha home he bought for $31,500 in 1958, Warren Buffett has stayed remarkably grounded. He’s been running Berkshire Hathaway since 1965, and most of his $130 billion net worth comes from its stock. Even after giving away tens of billions through philanthropy, he continues to rake in around $10 billion annually.
Bill Gates
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Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and made over $100 billion by 1999. Today, most of his wealth is managed through Cascade Investment, which holds stakes in everything from waste management to farming. He passed the $130 billion mark in 2021 but dropped slightly due to large donations.
Steve Ballmer
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As Microsoft’s CEO from 2000 to 2014, Steve Ballmer helped the company hit record profits. He owns about 4% of Microsoft, which makes him the largest individual shareholder. Ballmer is worth more than $130 billion and also owns the LA Clippers, which he bought for $2 billion in 2014.
Larry Page
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As one of Google’s co-founders, Larry Page, still owns about 6% of Alphabet. His fortune climbed past $120 billion, powered by strong ad revenue and AI tools like Gemini. He stepped down as Alphabet’s CEO in 2019 but still influences the company through his Class B voting shares.
Sergey Brin
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Sergey Brin started Google with Larry Page in 1998 and holds a stake worth billions. His wealth is also above $120 billion, thanks to Alphabet’s growth. He has kept a low profile in recent years but is still involved in tech projects like robotics and anti-aging research through Calico.
Mukesh Ambani
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India’s richest man runs Reliance Industries, a powerhouse in petrochemicals, telecom, and retail. Mukesh Ambani controls more than 50% of the company through a family trust. His net worth crossed $115 billion in 2024, boosted by Reliance Jio’s massive market share and plans for expansion in green energy.
Carlos Slim Helú
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Carlos Slim Helú made his billions through telecom, especially América Móvil, Latin America’s largest mobile network. The Mexican businessman also owns stakes in banking, retail, and construction. His net worth has hovered near $105 billion, and he once held the title of the world’s richest man back in 2010.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
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As the heiress to the L’Oréal fortune, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers became the first woman to pass the $100 billion threshold. She owns roughly 33% of the company and serves on its board. Her wealth surged in 2023 after strong beauty product sales in Asia and North America lifted L’Oréal’s stock.
Michael Bloomberg
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Michael Bloomberg owns 88% of his namesake media and financial data company, which brings in billions annually. He crossed the $100 billion mark in 2024, driven by demand for financial terminals and data services. Bloomberg also spent over $1 billion on philanthropic efforts and a short presidential campaign in 2020.
Jensen Huang
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The company powering most of the world’s AI hardware is owned by Jensen Huang, the CEO and co-founder of NVIDIA. His net worth exploded in 2024 after NVIDIA stock surged more than 200%. Huang now holds a fortune of over $110 billion, with the company becoming one of the most valuable in the world.