The Top 10 Richest People in The World from 1987 to 2024

Since 1987, Forbes has published its annual World’s Billionaires List, capturing the peaks and shifts in global wealth. This list has highlighted dominant industries, from retail and oil in earlier years to technology and luxury goods in recent years. Below is a detailed year-by-year summary of the top 10 richest individuals in the world, based on Forbes’ data, offering a unique view into how wealth and industry power have evolved.

1987-1999: The Rise of Japanese Real Estate and American Tech Giants

• 1987: In its first list, Forbes named Yoshiaki Tsutsumi of Japan, a real estate magnate, as the wealthiest individual, with a fortune estimated at $20 billion. Following him were several Japanese tycoons, highlighting Japan’s booming economy at the time.
• 1988-1990: Yoshiaki Tsutsumi held onto the top position, with his wealth reaching an estimated $20 billion in 1990. Japanese billionaires dominated the list due to the country’s soaring real estate market and economic growth.
• 1991-1996: The Walton family (U.S.) rose to prominence due to Walmart’s retail empire, maintaining the top spot through 1996 with a wealth of around $23 billion. This period marked the beginning of retail giants in wealth rankings.
• 1997: Bill Gates (U.S.) ascended to No. 1 with a net worth of $36 billion, marking the rise of technology in wealth rankings. Gates held this position for over a decade, with his wealth primarily tied to Microsoft’s growth.
• 1998-1999: Gates’s wealth dramatically increased, reaching $90 billion in 1999, underscoring the impact of the dot-com boom on the wealth landscape.

2000-2009: Tech Dominance and the Rise of Emerging Market Billionaires

• 2000-2007: Bill Gates continued his reign as the world’s wealthiest, with a net worth consistently above $50 billion, peaking at $90 billion in 1999 and experiencing fluctuations afterward due to Microsoft’s stock performance.
• 2008: Warren Buffett briefly took over with $62 billion, reflecting Berkshire Hathaway’s value investing strategy, particularly as the financial crisis impacted other sectors.
• 2009: Gates reclaimed the No. 1 spot amid fluctuating markets, with Microsoft remaining strong in the tech industry.

2010-2017: Diversified Wealth – Tech, Retail, and Telecom Titans

• 2010-2013: Carlos Slim (Mexico) became the world’s richest person, reflecting Latin America’s economic growth. His wealth, reaching $73 billion, was primarily from telecommunications through America Movil.
• 2014-2017: Bill Gates resumed his position, showcasing Microsoft’s resilience and his extensive charitable giving, which kept him at the top despite ongoing tech competition.

2018-2021: Amazon and the Explosive Growth of E-Commerce

2018-2021: Jeff Bezos (U.S.) claimed the top position, with Amazon’s dominance driving his net worth to $177 billion in 2021. This period reflected the digital retail surge, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and global e-commerce adoption.

2022-2024: The Influence of Luxury Goods and New Tech Giants

• 2022: Elon Musk (U.S.) briefly topped the list at $219 billion, marking a shift towards renewable energy and space exploration as significant sources of wealth with Tesla and SpaceX.
• 2023-2024: Bernard Arnault (France) became the first European to lead in over a decade. Due to LVMH’s success, his wealth reached $233 billion by 2024. His position reflects the strength of luxury goods in the post-pandemic economy.

Detailed Year-by-Year List of Top 10 Richest Persons in the World

Below is a breakdown of the top 10 richest persons per year, capturing how various economic shifts and industry dominance affected the list’s dynamics.

1987: The Inaugural Year

1. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $20 billion – Japan, Real Estate
2. Taikichiro Mori – $15 billion – Japan, Real Estate
3. Shigeru Kobayashi – $7.5 billion – Japan, Real Estate
4. Haruhiko Yoshimoto – $7 billion – Japan, Manufacturing
5. Salim Ahmed bin Mahfouz – $6.2 billion – Saudi Arabia, Banking
6. Hans Rausing – $6 billion – Sweden, Packaging
7. Paul Reichmann – $6 billion – Canada, Real Estate
8. Yohachiro Iwasaki – $5.6 billion – Japan, Financial Services
9. Kenneth Thomson – $5.4 billion – Canada, Media
10. Keizo Saji – $4 billion – Japan, Beverages

1988: Consolidation of Japanese Wealth

1. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $20 billion – Japan, Real Estate
2. Taikichiro Mori – $15 billion – Japan, Real Estate
3. Hans Rausing – $12.5 billion – Sweden, Packaging
4. Salim Ahmed bin Mahfouz – $10.6 billion – Saudi Arabia, Banking
5. Paul Reichmann – $8.4 billion – Canada, Real Estate
6. Queen Elizabeth II – $8.7 billion – UK, Royalty
7. Kenneth Thomson – $6.2 billion – Canada, Media
8. Forrest Mars Sr. – $6 billion – U.S., Confectionery
9. Yohachiro Iwasaki – $5.6 billion – Japan, Financial Services
10. Akira Mori – $4.5 billion – Japan, Real Estate

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1989: Global Expansion and Royal Fortunes

1. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – $25 billion – Brunei, Oil
2. King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz – $18 billion – Saudi Arabia, Oil
3. Forrest Mars Sr. – $12.5 billion – U.S., Confectionery
4. Queen Elizabeth II – $10.9 billion – UK, Royalty
5. Tsai Wan-lin – $9 billion – Taiwan, Financial Services
6. Paul Reichmann – $8.4 billion – Canada, Real Estate
7. Sam Walton – $8.9 billion – U.S., Retail
8. Kenneth Thomson – $6.9 billion – Canada, Media
9. Gerald Grosvenor – $6.9 billion – UK, Real Estate
10. Kitaro Watanabe – $6.3 billion – Japan, Financial Services

1990: Shifting Fortunes in Real Estate and Oil

1. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $16 billion – Japan, Real Estate
2. Taikichiro Mori – $14.6 billion – Japan, Real Estate
3. Walton Family – $13.5 billion – U.S., Retail
4. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – $12 billion – Brunei, Oil
5. Hans Rausing – $10 billion – Sweden, Packaging
6. Queen Elizabeth II – $9 billion – UK, Royalty
7. Kitaro Watanabe – $8 billion – Japan, Financial Services
8. Salim Ahmed bin Mahfouz – $7.9 billion – Saudi Arabia, Banking
9. Paul Reichmann – $7 billion – Canada, Real Estate
10. Yohachiro Iwasaki – $6.5 billion – Japan, Financial Services

1991: Waltons Ascend with U.S. Retail Boom

1. Walton Family – $18.5 billion – U.S., Retail
2. Taikichiro Mori – $15 billion – Japan, Real Estate
3. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $14 billion – Japan, Real Estate
4. Queen Elizabeth II – $9.2 billion – UK, Royalty
5. Hans Rausing – $9 billion – Sweden, Packaging
6. Kenneth Thomson – $6.8 billion – Canada, Media
7. Kitaro Watanabe – $6.4 billion – Japan, Financial Services
8. Paul Reichmann – $6.2 billion – Canada, Real Estate
9. Haruhiko Yoshimoto – $6 billion – Japan, Manufacturing
10. Shigeru Kobayashi – $5.8 billion – Japan, Real Estate

1992: Global Wealth Diversifies

1. Walton Family – $22.5 billion – U.S., Retail
2. Taikichiro Mori – $15 billion – Japan, Real Estate
3. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $10 billion – Japan, Real Estate
4. Hans Rausing – $9 billion – Sweden, Packaging
5. Erivan Haub – $6.9 billion – Germany, Retail
6. Paul Reichmann – $6.8 billion – Canada, Real Estate
7. Kenneth Thomson – $6.5 billion – Canada, Media
8. Kitaro Watanabe – $6 billion – Japan, Financial Services
9. Tsai Wan-lin – $5.5 billion – Taiwan, Banking
10. Haruhiko Yoshimoto – $5 billion – Japan, Manufacturing

1993: Walton Dominance in Retail

1. Walton Family – $25.3 billion – U.S., Retail
2. Mars Family – $9.2 billion – U.S., Confectionery
3. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $9 billion – Japan, Real Estate
4. Du Pont Family – $8.6 billion – U.S., Chemicals
5. Minoru and Akira Mori – $7.5 billion – Japan, Real Estate
6. Bill Gates – $7.4 billion – U.S., Microsoft
7. Samuel and Donald Newhouse – $7 billion – U.S., Media
8. Sid and Lee Bass – $6.8 billion – U.S., Oil
9. Warren Buffett – $6.6 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
10. Erivan Haub – $6.2 billion – Germany, Retail

1994: Tech Emerges as a Wealth Frontier

1. Walton Family – $22.6 billion – U.S., Retail
2. Du Pont Family – $9 billion – U.S., Chemicals
3. Hans and Gad Rausing – $9 billion – Sweden, Packaging
4. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $8.5 billion – Japan, Real Estate
5. Bill Gates – $8.2 billion – U.S., Microsoft
6. Warren Buffett – $7.9 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
7. Paul Sacher and Hoffman Family – $7.8 billion – Switzerland, Pharma
8. Tsai Wan-lin – $7.5 billion – Taiwan, Banking
9. Theo and Karl Albrecht – $7.3 billion – Germany, Retail
10. Carlos Slim Helu – $6.6 billion – Mexico, Telecom

1995: The Rise of Microsoft Wealth

1. Walton Family – $23.5 billion – U.S., Retail
2. Bill Gates – $12.9 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $10.7 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $9 billion – Japan, Real Estate
5. Hans Rausing – $9 billion – Sweden, Packaging
6. Paul Sacher – $8.6 billion – Switzerland, Pharma
7. Tsai Wan-lin – $8.5 billion – Taiwan, Banking
8. Lee Shau-kee – $6.5 billion – Hong Kong, Real Estate
9. Kenneth Thomson – $6.5 billion – Canada, Media
10. Chung Ju-yung – $6.2 billion – South Korea, Hyundai

1996: Walton Empire and the Rise of Tech

1. Walton Family – $22.9 billion – U.S., Retail
2. Bill Gates – $18 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $15.3 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Oeri, Hoffmann, and Sacher Families – $13.1 billion – Switzerland, Pharma
5. Lee Shau-kee – $12.7 billion – Hong Kong, Real Estate
6. Tsai Wan-lin – $12.2 billion – Taiwan, Banking
7. Kwok Brothers – $11.2 billion – Hong Kong, Real Estate
8. Li Ka-shing – $10.6 billion – Hong Kong, Real Estate
9. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi – $9.2 billion – Japan, Real Estate
10. Theo and Karl Albrecht – $9 billion – Germany, Retail

1997: Gates Tops the World

1. Bill Gates – $36.4 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Walton Family – $27.6 billion – U.S., Retail
3. Warren Buffett – $23.2 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Lee Shau-kee – $14.7 billion – Hong Kong, Real Estate
5. Paul Allen – $14.1 billion – U.S., Microsoft
6. Kwok Brothers – $12.3 billion – Hong Kong, Real Estate
7. Haas Family – $12.3 billion – U.S., Levi Strauss
8. Forrest Mars Sr. and Family – $12 billion – U.S., Confectionery
9. Theo and Karl Albrecht – $11.5 billion – Germany, Retail
10. Tsai Wan-lin – $11.3 billion – Taiwan, Banking

1998: Gates’ Fortune Grows

1. Bill Gates – $51 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Walton Family – $48 billion – U.S., Retail
3. Warren Buffett – $33 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Paul Allen – $21 billion – U.S., Microsoft
5. Kenneth Thomson – $14.4 billion – Canada, Media
6. Jay and Robert Pritzker – $13.5 billion – U.S., Hyatt Hotels
7. Forrest Mars Sr. and Family – $13.5 billion – U.S., Confectionery
8. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $13.3 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
9. Lee Shau-kee – $12.7 billion – Hong Kong, Real Estate
10. Theo and Karl Albrecht – $11.7 billion – Germany, Retail

1999: Dot-Com Boom Expands Gates’ Lead

1. Bill Gates – $90 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $36 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Paul Allen – $30 billion – U.S., Microsoft
4. Steven Ballmer – $19.5 billion – U.S., Microsoft
5. Oeri, Hoffman, and Sacher Families – $17 billion – Switzerland, Pharmaceuticals
6. Philip Anschutz – $16.5 billion – U.S., Investments
7. Michael Dell – $16.5 billion – U.S., Dell
8. Robson Walton – $15.8 billion – U.S., Walmart
9. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $15 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
10. Liliane Bettencourt – $13.9 billion – France, L’Oréal

2000: Gates’ Wealth Peaks

1. Bill Gates – $60 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Larry Ellison – $47 billion – U.S., Oracle
3. Paul Allen – $28 billion – U.S., Microsoft
4. Warren Buffett – $25.6 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
5. Theo and Karl Albrecht – $20 billion – Germany, Retail
6. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $20 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
7. S. Robson Walton – $20 billion – U.S., Walmart
8. Masayoshi Son – $19.4 billion – Japan, Telecom
9. Michael Dell – $19.1 billion – U.S., Dell
10. Kenneth Thomson – $16.1 billion – Canada, Media

2001: Gates Leads Amid Dot-Com Bust

1. Bill Gates – $58.7 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $32.3 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Paul Allen – $30.4 billion – U.S., Microsoft
4. Larry Ellison – $26 billion – U.S., Oracle
5. Theo and Karl Albrecht – $25 billion – Germany, Retail
6. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $20 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
7. Jim Walton – $18.8 billion – U.S., Walmart
8. John Walton – $18.7 billion – U.S., Walmart
9. S. Robson Walton – $18.6 billion – U.S., Walmart
10. Alice Walton – $18.5 billion – U.S., Walmart

2002: Tech Fortunes Stabilize Post-Bubble

1. Bill Gates – $52.8 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $35 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Karl and Theo Albrecht – $26.8 billion – Germany, Retail
4. Paul Allen – $25.2 billion – U.S., Microsoft
5. Larry Ellison – $23.5 billion – U.S., Oracle
6. Jim Walton – $20.8 billion – U.S., Walmart
7. John Walton – $20.7 billion – U.S., Walmart
8. Alice Walton – $20.5 billion – U.S., Walmart
9. S. Robson Walton – $20.5 billion – U.S., Walmart
10. Helen Walton – $20.5 billion – U.S., Walmart

2003: Resurgence in Wealth After Market Recovery

1. Bill Gates – $40.7 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $30.5 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Karl and Theo Albrecht – $25.6 billion – Germany, Retail
4. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $20 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
5. Paul Allen – $18 billion – U.S., Microsoft
6. Alice Walton – $17.7 billion – U.S., Walmart
7. Jim Walton – $17.6 billion – U.S., Walmart
8. John Walton – $17.3 billion – U.S., Walmart
9. S. Robson Walton – $17.2 billion – U.S., Walmart
10. Larry Ellison – $16.6 billion – U.S., Oracle

2004: Tech and Retail Continue to Dominate

1. Bill Gates – $46.6 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $42.9 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Karl and Theo Albrecht – $23 billion – Germany, Retail
4. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $21.5 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
5. Paul Allen – $21 billion – U.S., Microsoft
6. Alice Walton – $20 billion – U.S., Walmart
7. Jim Walton – $19.8 billion – U.S., Walmart
8. John Walton – $19.2 billion – U.S., Walmart
9. S. Robson Walton – $18.8 billion – U.S., Walmart
10. Larry Ellison – $18.7 billion – U.S., Oracle

2005: Gates and Buffett Lead as Market Growth Continues

1. Bill Gates – $46.5 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $44 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Lakshmi Mittal – $25 billion – India, Steel
4. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $23.7 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
5. Paul Allen – $21 billion – U.S., Microsoft
6. Karl and Theo Albrecht – $18.5 billion – Germany, Retail
7. Larry Ellison – $18.4 billion – U.S., Oracle
8. Jim Walton – $18.3 billion – U.S., Walmart
9. John Walton – $18.2 billion – U.S., Walmart
10. S. Robson Walton – $18.1 billion – U.S., Walmart

2006: Gates and Buffett Hold Strong

1. Bill Gates – $50 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $42 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Carlos Slim Helu – $30 billion – Mexico, Telecom
4. Ingvar Kamprad – $28 billion – Sweden, IKEA
5. Lakshmi Mittal – $23.5 billion – India, Steel
6. Paul Allen – $22 billion – U.S., Microsoft
7. Bernard Arnault – $21.5 billion – France, LVMH
8. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal – $20.5 billion – Saudi Arabia, Investments
9. Kenneth Thomson – $19.6 billion – Canada, Media
10. Li Ka-shing – $18.8 billion – Hong Kong, Diversified

2007: The Rise of Telecom and Retail Giants

1. Carlos Slim Helu – $53.5 billion – Mexico, Telecom
2. Bill Gates – $56 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $52 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Lakshmi Mittal – $45 billion – India, Steel
5. Mukesh Ambani – $43 billion – India, Oil and Gas
6. Anil Ambani – $42 billion – India, Telecom
7. Ingvar Kamprad – $31 billion – Sweden, IKEA
8. KP Singh – $30 billion – India, Real Estate
9. Oleg Deripaska – $28 billion – Russia, Aluminum
10. Karl Albrecht – $27 billion – Germany, Retail

2008: Buffett Reclaims the Top Spot Amid Market Volatility

1. Warren Buffett – $62 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
2. Carlos Slim Helu – $60 billion – Mexico, Telecom
3. Bill Gates – $58 billion – U.S., Microsoft
4. Lakshmi Mittal – $45 billion – India, Steel
5. Mukesh Ambani – $43 billion – India, Oil and Gas
6. Anil Ambani – $42 billion – India, Telecom
7. Ingvar Kamprad – $31 billion – Sweden, IKEA
8. KP Singh – $30 billion – India, Real Estate
9. Oleg Deripaska – $28 billion – Russia, Aluminum
10. Karl Albrecht – $27 billion – Germany, Retail

2009: Economic Downturn Impacts Wealth Rankings

1. Bill Gates – $40 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $37 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Carlos Slim Helu – $35 billion – Mexico, Telecom
4. Lawrence Ellison – $22.5 billion – U.S., Oracle
5. Ingvar Kamprad – $22 billion – Sweden, IKEA
6. Karl Albrecht – $21.5 billion – Germany, Retail
7. Mukesh Ambani – $19.5 billion – India, Oil and Gas
8. Lakshmi Mittal – $19.3 billion – India, Steel
9. Theo Albrecht – $18.8 billion – Germany, Retail
10. Amancio Ortega – $18.3 billion – Spain, Zara

2010: Carlos Slim Helu Becomes the World’s Richest

1. Carlos Slim Helu – $53.5 billion – Mexico, Telecom
2. Bill Gates – $53 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $47 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Mukesh Ambani – $29 billion – India, Oil and Gas
5. Lakshmi Mittal – $28.7 billion – India, Steel
6. Lawrence Ellison – $28 billion – U.S., Oracle
7. Bernard Arnault – $27.5 billion – France, LVMH
8. Eike Batista – $27 billion – Brazil, Mining/Oil
9. Amancio Ortega – $25 billion – Spain, Zara
10. Karl Albrecht – $23.5 billion – Germany, Retail

2011: Carlos Slim Holds the Top Spot

1. Carlos Slim Helu – $74 billion – Mexico, Telecom
2. Bill Gates – $56 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $50 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Bernard Arnault – $41 billion – France, LVMH
5. Larry Ellison – $39.5 billion – U.S., Oracle
6. Lakshmi Mittal – $31.1 billion – India, Steel
7. Amancio Ortega – $31 billion – Spain, Zara
8. Eike Batista – $30 billion – Brazil, Mining/Oil
9. Mukesh Ambani – $27 billion – India, Oil and Gas
10. Christy Walton – $26.5 billion – U.S., Walmart

2012: Slim and Gates Continue to Lead

1. Carlos Slim Helu – $69 billion – Mexico, Telecom
2. Bill Gates – $61 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $44 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Bernard Arnault – $41 billion – France, LVMH
5. Amancio Ortega – $37.5 billion – Spain, Zara
6. Larry Ellison – $36 billion – U.S., Oracle
7. Eike Batista – $30 billion – Brazil, Mining/Oil
8. Stefan Persson – $26 billion – Sweden, H&M
9. Li Ka-shing – $25.5 billion – Hong Kong, Diversified
10. Karl Albrecht – $25.4 billion – Germany, Retail

2013: Gates Reclaims the Top Position

1. Bill Gates – $72 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Carlos Slim Helu – $72 billion – Mexico, Telecom
3. Amancio Ortega – $57 billion – Spain, Zara
4. Warren Buffett – $53.5 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
5. Larry Ellison – $43 billion – U.S., Oracle
6. Charles Koch – $34 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
7. David Koch – $34 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
8. Li Ka-shing – $31 billion – Hong Kong, Diversified
9. Liliane Bettencourt – $30 billion – France, L’Oréal
10. Bernard Arnault – $29 billion – France, LVMH

2014: Gates’ Continued Dominance

1. Bill Gates – $76 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Carlos Slim Helu – $72 billion – Mexico, Telecom
3. Amancio Ortega – $64 billion – Spain, Zara
4. Warren Buffett – $58.2 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
5. Larry Ellison – $48 billion – U.S., Oracle
6. Charles Koch – $40 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
7. David Koch – $40 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
8. Sheldon Adelson – $38 billion – U.S., Casinos
9. Christy Walton – $36.7 billion – U.S., Walmart
10. Jim Walton – $34.7 billion – U.S., Walmart

2015: Gates and Slim Compete

1. Bill Gates – $79.2 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Carlos Slim Helu – $77.1 billion – Mexico, Telecom
3. Warren Buffett – $72.7 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Amancio Ortega – $64.5 billion – Spain, Zara
5. Larry Ellison – $54.3 billion – U.S., Oracle
6. Charles Koch – $42.9 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
7. David Koch – $42.9 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
8. Christy Walton – $41.7 billion – U.S., Walmart
9. Jim Walton – $40.6 billion – U.S., Walmart
10. Liliane Bettencourt – $39.5 billion – France, L’Oréal

2016: Ortega and Buffett Close In on Gates

1. Bill Gates – $75 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Amancio Ortega – $67 billion – Spain, Zara
3. Warren Buffett – $60.8 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Carlos Slim Helu – $50 billion – Mexico, Telecom
5. Jeff Bezos – $45.2 billion – U.S., Amazon
6. Mark Zuckerberg – $44.6 billion – U.S., Facebook
7. Larry Ellison – $43.6 billion – U.S., Oracle
8. Michael Bloomberg – $40 billion – U.S., Bloomberg LP
9. Charles Koch – $39.6 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
10. David Koch – $39.6 billion – U.S., Koch Industries

2017: Bezos Enters the Top Three

1. Bill Gates – $86 billion – U.S., Microsoft
2. Warren Buffett – $75.6 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
3. Jeff Bezos – $72.8 billion – U.S., Amazon
4. Amancio Ortega – $71.3 billion – Spain, Zara
5. Mark Zuckerberg – $56 billion – U.S., Facebook
6. Carlos Slim Helu – $54.5 billion – Mexico, Telecom
7. Larry Ellison – $52.2 billion – U.S., Oracle
8. Charles Koch – $48.3 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
9. David Koch – $48.3 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
10. Michael Bloomberg – $47.5 billion – U.S., Bloomberg LP

2018: Bezos Surpasses Gates

1. Jeff Bezos – $112 billion – U.S., Amazon
2. Bill Gates – $90 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $84 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Bernard Arnault – $72 billion – France, LVMH
5. Mark Zuckerberg – $71 billion – U.S., Facebook
6. Amancio Ortega – $70 billion – Spain, Zara
7. Carlos Slim Helu – $67.1 billion – Mexico, Telecom
8. Charles Koch – $60 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
9. David Koch – $60 billion – U.S., Koch Industries
10. Larry Ellison – $58.5 billion – U.S., Oracle

2019: Bezos Expands His Lead

1. Jeff Bezos – $131 billion – U.S., Amazon
2. Bill Gates – $96.5 billion – U.S., Microsoft
3. Warren Buffett – $82.5 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
4. Bernard Arnault – $76 billion – France, LVMH
5. Carlos Slim Helu – $64 billion – Mexico, Telecom
6. Amancio Ortega – $62.7 billion – Spain, Zara
7. Larry Ellison – $62.5 billion – U.S., Oracle
8. Mark Zuckerberg – $62.3 billion – U.S., Facebook
9. Michael Bloomberg – $55.5 billion – U.S., Bloomberg LP
10. Larry Page – $50.8 billion – U.S., Google

2020: Bezos and Arnault Compete in a Pandemic Year

1. Jeff Bezos – $113 billion – U.S., Amazon
2. Bernard Arnault – $76 billion – France, LVMH
3. Bill Gates – $98 billion – U.S., Microsoft
4. Warren Buffett – $67.5 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
5. Larry Ellison – $59 billion – U.S., Oracle
6. Steve Ballmer – $58 billion – U.S., Microsoft
7. Larry Page – $50.9 billion – U.S., Google
8. Sergey Brin – $49.1 billion – U.S., Google
9. Amancio Ortega – $55.1 billion – Spain, Zara
10. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers – $48.9 billion – France, L’Oréal

2021: Bezos Holds on as Musk Rises

1. Jeff Bezos – $177 billion – U.S., Amazon
2. Elon Musk – $151 billion – U.S., Tesla/SpaceX
3. Bernard Arnault – $150 billion – France, LVMH
4. Bill Gates – $124 billion – U.S., Microsoft
5. Mark Zuckerberg – $97 billion – U.S., Facebook
6. Warren Buffett – $96 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
7. Larry Ellison – $93 billion – U.S., Oracle
8. Larry Page – $91.5 billion – U.S., Google
9. Sergey Brin – $89 billion – U.S., Google
10. Mukesh Ambani – $84.5 billion – India, Reliance Industries

2022: Musk Overtakes Bezos Amid Tech Boom

1. Elon Musk – $219 billion – U.S., Tesla/SpaceX
2. Jeff Bezos – $171 billion – U.S., Amazon
3. Bernard Arnault – $158 billion – France, LVMH
4. Bill Gates – $129 billion – U.S., Microsoft
5. Warren Buffett – $118 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
6. Larry Page – $111 billion – U.S., Google
7. Sergey Brin – $107 billion – U.S., Google
8. Larry Ellison – $106 billion – U.S., Oracle
9. Steve Ballmer – $91.4 billion – U.S., Microsoft
10. Mukesh Ambani – $90.7 billion – India, Reliance Industries

2023: Arnault Becomes the World’s Richest

1. Bernard Arnault – $211 billion – France, LVMH
2. Elon Musk – $180 billion – U.S., Tesla/SpaceX
3. Jeff Bezos – $114 billion – U.S., Amazon
4. Larry Ellison – $107 billion – U.S., Oracle
5. Warren Buffett – $106 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
6. Bill Gates – $104 billion – U.S., Microsoft
7. Carlos Slim Helu – $94 billion – Mexico, Telecom
8. Mukesh Ambani – $93 billion – India, Reliance Industries
9. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers – $80.5 billion – France, L’Oréal
10. Steve Ballmer – $80.2 billion – U.S., Microsoft

2024: Elon Musk Reclaimed the Top Position

1. Elon Musk – $271 billion – U.S., Tesla/SpaceX
2. Larry Ellison – $210.2 billion – U.S., Oracle
3. Jeff Bezos – $206.2 billion – U.S., Amazon
4. Mark Zuckerberg – $200 billion – U.S., Meta
5. Bernard Arnault – $174.7 billion – France, LVMH
6. Warren Buffett – $144.3 billion – U.S., Berkshire Hathaway
7. Larry Page – $138.7 billion – U.S., Google
8. Sergey Brin – $132.7 billion – U.S., Google
9. Amancio Ortega – $132 billion – Spain, Zara
10. Steve Ballmer – $125.5 billion – U.S., Microsoft

This ranking illustrates how the technology, luxury, and e-commerce industries continue to dominate the billionaire landscape in 2024.