Top ten billionaires: who are the World’s Richest persons?
This year, War, pandemic and sluggish markets hit the world’s billionaires whose number drop by 87 to 2,668 on Forbes’ annual ranking of the planet’s richest people.
They’re worth a collective $12.7 trillion — $400 billion less than in 2021, it says.
Still, Forbes found more than 1,000 billionaires who are richer than they were a year ago, as well as 236 newcomers who have become billionaires over the past year—including the first ever from Barbados, Bulgaria, Estonia and Uruguay.
The United States leads the world, with 735 billionaires worth a collective $4.7 trillion, including Elon Musk, who tops the World’s Billionaires list for the first time.
China remains number two, with 607 billionaires worth a collective $2.3 trillion.
Below are the World’s top 10 Billionaires, according to Forbes business magazine that used stock prices and exchange rates from March 11, 2022 to calculate net worths.
#1 | Elon Musk
Net Worth: $219 Billion
Age: 50
Country: United States
Industry: Automotive
Elon Musk, who has acquired a 9.2% stake in the social media giant Twitter on Monday, is working to revolutionize transportation both on Earth, through electric car maker Tesla — and in space, via rocket producer SpaceX.
#2 | Jeff Bezos
Net Worth: $171 Billion
Age: 58
Country: United States
Industry: Technology
Jeff Bezos founded e-commerce giant Amazon in 1994 out of his garage in Seattle. He stepped down as CEO to become executive chairman in July 2021.
#3 | Bernard Arnault & family
Net Worth: $158 Billion
Age: 73
Country: France
Industry: Fashion & Retail
One of the world’s ultimate taste-makers, Bernard Arnault oversees an empire of 70 brands including Louis Vuitton and Sephora.
#4 | Bill Gates
Net Worth: $129 Billion
Age: 66
Country: United States
Industry: Technology
Bill Gates turned his fortune from software firm Microsoft into a diversified fortune; his focus has shifted to zero-carbon energy investing and philanthropy.
#5 | Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $118 Billion
Age: 91
Country: United States
Industry: Finance & Investments
Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time.
#6 | Larry Page
Net Worth: $111 Billion
Age: 49
Country: United States
Industry: Technology
Larry Page stepped down as CEO of Alphabet, the parent of Google, in December 2019 but remains a board member and a controlling shareholder.
#7 | Sergey Brin
Net Worth: $107 Billion
Age: 48
Country: United States
Industry: Technology
Sergey Brin stepped down as president of Alphabet, parent company of Google, in December 2019 but remains a controller shareholder and a board member.
#8 | Larry Ellison
Net Worth: $106 Billion
Age: 77
Country: United States
Industry: Technology
Larry Ellison is chairman, chief technology officer and cofounder of software giant Oracle, of which he owns about 35%.
#9 | Steve Ballmer
Net Worth: $91.4 Billion
Age: 66
Country: United States
Industry: Technology
Steve Ballmer is the high-wattage former CEO of Microsoft, who led the company from 2000 to 2014.
#10 | Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth: $90.7 Billion
Age: 64
Country: India
Industry: Diversified
Mukesh Ambani chairs and runs $74 billion (revenue) Reliance Industries, which has interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom and retail.
Featured Image Caption: The world’s top Billionaire Elon Musk (pictured) has acquired a 9.2% stake in Twitter on Monday – a move that comes weeks after the billionaire accused Twitter of failing to adhere to free speech principles. [Photo Forbes]