Forbes Billionaire List 2024

quote:

---

what a year it’s been for the planet’s billionaires, whose fortunes continue to swell as global stock markets shrug off war, political unrest and lingering inflation. There are now more billionaires than ever: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021. They’re richer than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021. Two-thirds of the list’s members are worth more than a year ago; only one fourth are poorer. Much of the gains come from the top 20, who added a combined $700 billion in wealth since 2023, and from the U.S., which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion.

China remains second, with 473 (including Hong Kong) worth $1.7 trillion, despite weak consumer spending and a real estate bust that helped wipe out some $300 billion in wealth. India, which has 200 billionaires (also a record), ranks third. To calculate net worths, we used stock prices and exchange rates from March 8, 2024. See below for the full list of the world’s billionaires and our methodology. For daily updated net worths of all 2,781 billionaires, check out our real-time billionaires rankings.

---

quote:

---

1. Bernard Arnault & family
$233B Fashion & Retail

2. Elon Musk $195B Automotive

3. Jeff Bezos $194B Technology

4. Mark Zuckerberg $177B Technology

5. Larry Ellison $141B Technology

6. Warren Buffett $133B Finance & Investments

7. Bill Gates $128B Technology

8. Steve Ballmer $121B Technology

9. Mukesh Ambani $116B

---

quote:

---

Women account for just over 13% of the world’s billionaires. They are richer than ever before.

---

quote:

---

The world's richest directors

1. George Lucas — $5.5B
2. Steven Spielberg — $4.8B
3. Peter Jackson — $1.5B

---

quote:

---

New Billionaires 2024: Taylor Swift, Magic Johnson And 263 Others Join The Ranks This Year

---