The 2024 Forbes annual rich list has been released, revealing the fortunes of the planet’s billionaires, which continue to grow despite global challenges such as war, political unrest, and inflation. The list now includes a record 2,781 billionaires, with a collective net worth of $14.2 trillion, up by $2 trillion from the previous year and $1.1 trillion above the previous record. The top 20 billionaires have seen a combined increase of $700 billion in wealth, with the U.S. leading the way with a record 813 billionaires worth $5.7 trillion. China follows with 473 billionaires, despite challenges like weak consumer spending and a real estate downturn.
The richest people in the world on the 2024 Forbes list include French billionaire Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, with a net worth of $233 billion. Elon Musk of the United States, known for his companies Tesla and SpaceX, follows closely with a net worth of $195 billion. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is the third richest person with a net worth of $194 billion. Other notable names on the list include Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates, among others.
India has also seen a rise in billionaires, with Mukesh Ambani leading the way as the richest person in the country with a net worth of $116 billion. Other Indian billionaires on the list include Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani Group, and Savitri Jindal, chair of the Jindal Group. The list showcases the diversity of industries that billionaires are involved in, from technology and finance to fashion and retail.
The youngest billionaire on the list is Sky Xu, founder of fast-fashion company Shein, at the age of 40, with a net worth of $14.2 billion. On the other end of the spectrum, the oldest billionaire is Khoo Teck Puat from Malaysia, age 100, with a net worth of $11.7 billion. The list also includes notable philanthropists and industry leaders such as Laurene Powell Jobs, Melinda French Gates, and Masayoshi Son.
Overall, the 2024 Forbes rich list highlights the continued growth of wealth among the world’s billionaires, despite economic and political challenges. The list showcases the diverse backgrounds and industries that billionaires come from, as well as their contributions to society through philanthropy and innovation.
