Top 10 Richest People In The World (January 2024)
Elon Musk begins the new year with an estimated net worth of $421.2 billion according to Forbes. This marks a significant increase of $91 billion since December 1. The surge in his wealth came after SpaceX agreed to repurchase insiders' shares, valuing the company at $350 billion, up from its previous valuation of $210 billion. Musk, who holds a 42% stake in SpaceX, founded the company in 2002 and serves as its CEO. This valuation made SpaceX the most valuable private company globally, surpassing companies like TikTok parent ByteDance and payments firm Stripe. In addition to SpaceX, Musk also heads Tesla, and has investments in companies like X and xAI.
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos, the founder and chairman of Amazon, has moved up to the position of the world's second-richest person, up from third place in December 2024. With approximately 9% ownership of Amazon, Bezos saw his wealth increase by about $10 billion in the past month as the e-commerce giant's shares rose by 5%. As of January 1, 2025, Bezos is estimated to be worth $233.5 billion, still significantly less than Musk's wealth.
Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO and cofounder Jensen Huang made his debut in the top 10 richest people list at the beginning of January with an estimated net worth of $118 billion. Much of his wealth comes from his stake in the chip designer Nvidia, which saw its shares increase by 171% in 2024. With a market capitalization of $3.28 trillion at the end of the year, Nvidia surpassed companies like Microsoft in value. Huang's rise in wealth pushed him ahead of Amancio Ortega, the founder of Inditex, whose shares declined in the past month.
These are just a few highlights from the wealthiest individuals in the world. Forbes has been tracking billionaires since 1987, providing insights into the net worth of the world's elite. As of January 1, 2025, at 12 a.m. Eastern time, Forbes presents the top 10 richest people globally. Please note that stock prices fluctuate daily, leading to potential changes in net worth. Stay updated with Forbes' Real Time list of billionaires for the latest updates on their wealth.
1. Elon Musk
2. Jeff Bezos
3. Larry Ellison
4. Mark Zuckerberg
5. Bernard Arnault
6. Larry Page
7. Sergey Brin
8. Warren Buffett
9. Steve Ballmer
10. Jensen Huang
*As of January 1, 2025 at 12 a.m. ET
Elon Musk, known for his roles in Tesla, SpaceX, X, and xAI, has been a prominent figure in the business world. His ventures and investments have contributed to his immense wealth. Similarly, other individuals on the list have their own stories of success and achievements that have propelled them to the top of the global wealth rankings.
