Be it having big and luxurious houses or traveling in business class, the rich possess them all. Besides, they also own some supercars like Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and more. Do all rich people afford them? Well, certainly not! Only some can do so.
Can all bear huge losses and highs and lows of the market? Again the answer is a big NO! The most affluent and wealthy can do so, too, a handful of them. So, if you are wondering about the top 20 richest men in the world, we have covered you all with it!
From Elon R Musk To Bernard Arnault, over 2688 billionaires worldwide have made it to the top by creating innovative and groundbreaking products. But who are the top 20 richest men in the world? If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place. From their rich lifestyle to their net worth, we have gathered it all for you. So without any further delay, let’s mingle with the high rollers!
Top 20 Richest Men In The World
RANK | NAME | NET WORTH |
---|---|---|
1. | Bernard Arnault | $208 B |
2. | Elon Musk | $143 B |
3. | Gautam Adani | $128 B |
4. | Jeff Bezos | $119 B |
5. | Warren Buffett | $110 B |
6. | Larry Elison | $109 B |
7. | Bill Gates | $103 B |
8. | Carlos Helu & Family | $89 B |
9. | Mukesh Ambani | $88 B |
10. | Larry Page | $79 B |
11. | Steve Ballmer | $77 B |
12. | Michael Bloomberg | $76 B |
13. | Sergey Brin | $76 B |
14. | Amancio Ortega | $70 B |
15. | Zhong Shanshan | $70 B |
16. | Jim Walton | $61 B |
17. | Rob Walton | $60 B |
18. | Charles Koch | $59 B |
19. | David Thomson & Family | $53 B |
20. | Michael Dell | $52 B |
The list of the top most affluent men in the world varies day-to-day. Several factors, like net worth and financial performance, account for their positioning in this list. Here’s all you need to know about the top 20 richest men in the world based on the data taken on February 3, 2023.
Let’s know more about all of these individuals better!
1. Bernard Arnault- $208 Billion
The CEO of Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessey, Bernard Arnault, is currently the wealthiest man in the world. Born and brought up in Paris, France, Arnault is 73 years old. Despite the years’ advancements, Arnault’s determination to reach new heights remains unwavering. Louis Vuitton is a leading luxury fashion brand. On the other hand, Moet Hennessey is a well-known champagne and cognac company.
His net worth is $208.9B, equivalent to 0.788% of the USA’s GDP. Sephora, Bulgari, Givenchy, Kenzo, Fendi, Tag Huer, and several other luxury brands come under LVMH. He also owns several hotel chains, trains, and cruise ships. These companies contribute enough to make Arnault the wealthiest person in the world.
Back in 2017, Arnault used to be the 14th richest man in the world. However, as the sands of time have shifted, so has his ranking in the richest people list. In the past half-decade, Arnault has exhibited remarkable growth, becoming the wealthiest person in the world on April 8, 2021.
2. Elon Musk -$143 Billion
Elon Musk, a pioneer in the world of electric vehicles, space travel, and artificial intelligence, is the second richest man in the world. Musk is a visionary with several plans for earth and space’s future. He owns 25% stakes in tesla and 44% in SpaceX. Besides, Musk is the founder of The Boring Company and Neuralink. Recently, he acquired Twitter with a 9.2% share.
Musk celebrated his 51st birthday this year. His electric car company, Tesla, has a valuation of $800 billion, becoming the world’s most valuable automotive brand. Valued at $100 billion, SpaceX has become one of the leading private space companies.
On September 27, 2021, Musk became the wealthiest person in the world with a whopping $240B. However, As 2021 drew to a close, Musk faced several adversities, slumping his net worth to $143B. According to reports, Elon has lost around $200B since November 2021. As he looks to the future, Musk aims to advance space travel and establish human settlements on other celestial bodies.
3. Gautam Adani -$128 Billion
A visionary entrepreneur is known for his leadership and diversification. Not many people know that Adani dropped out of college to pursue entrepreneurship. In his early days, he worked for a few years in the diamond industry. Later in 1985, Adani started his export business which changed his fate. The chairman of Adani Group, Gautam Adani, has also invested and diversified his business into several industries like energy, logistics, aerospace, and more.
As of February 2023, Adani has a net worth of $128B, making him India’s richest person and the third richest in the world. Talking about his assets, He owns three private jets, a BMW 7 Series, Rolls-Royce Ghost, and Ferrari California. Moreover, he has the highest stake in Mumbai International Airport. As of now, Adani is 63 years old.
4. Jeff Bezos- $119 Billion
With firm determination and an innovative mindset, Jeff Bezos has cemented his position as a titan of online retail shopping services. In 1994, he created Amazon in his little garage through his entrepreneurial acumen. Today, Amazon rules the eCommerce market. Bezos has a net worth of $119B and ranks as the fourth wealthiest man in the world.
However, If he didn’t divorce his wife, he would have been in the top three richest person list. He gave one-third of his share in Amazon to his wife in the divorce settlement agreement. The coronavirus pandemic served as a catalyst, boosting Amazon’s sales as people switched to online shopping. Jeff Bezos became the first to cross the $100B and $200B marks. He owns the world’s biggest superyacht, costing him $500 million.
5. Warren Buffett- $110 Billion
A synonymous with unparalleled business acumen is one of the greatest investors. Warren is currently 92 years old and owns over 62 companies. Thus, He is also known as the oracle of Ohama. Warren has a 30.71% ownership stake in Berkshire Hathaway.
Buffet started trading at 11, a true inspiration for investors and traders. Buffett attributes most of his wealth to the power of compound interest. With a net worth of $110B, he became one of the wealthiest men in the world. He is not only a great businessman but also a prominent public figure. Although Buffett has become one of the wealthiest men in the world, he has committed to donating most of his wealth to philanthropic causes.
6. Larry Ellson- $109 Billion
A prominent name in the computer technology industry is the founder of Oracle. He is 78 years old and has over 140,000 employees. In 2022, Oracle generated a revenue of $42.4 B. It is one of the most significant contributors to Larry’s net worth, a whopping $109.4B. In 2014, Larry stepped down from his position as the Chief Executive Officer of Oracle. Since then, He is the chairman of the board of directors.
Surprisingly, Larry owns almost every island in Lanai, Hawaii. Recently, Larry invested $1B in Softbank’s technology. He is known for his dedication, innovative mindset, and immense wealth, making him one of the wealthiest and most influential entrepreneurs. Apart from Oracle, Larry also owns $3M Tesla shares.
7. Bill Gates- $103 Billion
The revolutionary entrepreneur and mastermind behind the tech giant Microsoft are one of the world’s most influential and richest man in the world. His unwavering commitment to software and computer development has propelled him to the forefront of the personal computer industry. Bill has sold much of his stake in Microsoft, retaining only 1%. Yet, he has a net worth of $103B.
Further, he owns stakes in the Canadian National Railway and numerous farmlands in the US. Bill created Microsoft in 1975 with his friend Paul Allen. Having begun as a small venture, it has undergone a metamorphosis to become the leading PC software company. Bill owns some rarest cars, like the Porsche 911, a Ferrari 348, and a 1988 Porsche 959 Coupe.
8. Carlos Slim Helu- $89 Billion
Carlos is a Mexican businessman, trader, and humanitarian. He is the eighth richest man in the world, with a net worth of $89B. Carlos is the chairman and executive of Telmex and America Movil. Apart from that, he has a 17% ownership stake in The New York Times and 79% in Grupo Carso.
Carlos is also known for his philanthropy; he has donated a significant portion of his wealth through Carlos Slim Foundations. He is a connoisseur of the arts as he owns some of the rarest artworks, including paintings by Salvador Dali, Van Gogh, Monet, and many others.
9. Mukesh Ambani- $88 Billion
A luminary in the Indian corporate sphere owns the world’s largest oil refinery. Carrying his father’s legacy, Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh has propelled his business ventures to unprecedented heights. He is the chairman and largest shareholder of Reliance industries. Not to mention that he dropped out of Stanford to pursue his family business. Recently, Mukesh passed on the mantle of chairman to his son, Akash Ambani. So, we can soon see him on the top richest men list.
Regarding his assets, he owns the world’s most expensive home, Antilia. Further, he recently bought Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah for $136M. Mukesh owns several multi-million companies like Reliance Retail, Reliance Jio, Network 18, Eros international, and more. With a net worth of $88.2, Mukesh ranks tenth in the top richest men list.
10. Larry Page- $79 Billion
Larry is a tech visionary and a computer scientist, best known as the founder of Google. He stepped down from the position of CEO in 2001. Then again, from 2011 to 2015, he worked as the CEO of Google. Larry has now pivoted toward the flying car industry, as he has invested in Kitty Hawk and Opener.
Larry belongs to a science background family. Thus, from the tender age of 12, he harbored an ambition to establish his venture. In 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin created Google; the rest is history. Page invented an AI algorithm, PageRank, which boosted Google’s growth. Google is now worth over $1.2 Trillion, one of the most valuable companies in the world. As of February 2023, Larry Page has a net worth of $79 B.
11. Steve Ballmer- $77 Billion
A master of business strategy is widely recognized for his exceptional leadership and unparalleled insight into investing. Ballmer owns the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. Not to mention that he was also Microsoft’s CEO. Currently, he holds 4% of ownership stakes in Microsoft, resulting in a net worth of $77.4B.
During his tenure as a CEO, Ballmer oversaw Microsoft when it was engaged in intense competition with tech giants like Google and Apple. He dropped out of Stanford to work at Microsoft. Further, he invested in Redmond, an operating system company. Surprisingly, Balmer’s net worth is equivalent to 5.28% of existing home sales in the US.
12. Michael Bloomberg- $76 Billion
Michael is one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs and philanthropists. His contribution to finance, media, and politics has positively impacted society. In 1973, Michael became Salomon Brothers’ partner. Unfortunately, in 1982, the top management fired him for incompetency. As compensation, he received $10 million.
He invested this money to establish a data services company, Innovative Marketing Systems. Later, the company rebranded itself as Bloomberg L.P. As of now, Bloomberg’s net worth is $76B. He even served as New York’s Mayor for three consecutive terms. Michael has also donated to public health development programs. Not to mention his contribution to addressing climate change.
13. Sergey Brin- $76 Billion
Brin is another founder of Google. Thus, it’s no surprise that he appears on the list of the wealthiest individuals globally. Brin became one of the first presidents of Alphabet. Several entities like YoutTube, Android, Fitbit, and more come under Alphabet. Later, in 2019, Brin resigned from the presidential post. Currently, Brin is Google’s controller shareholder and has a net worth of $76B, making him one of the wealthiest men in the world.
As of 2023, Brin is 49 years old and has invested in Tesla and 23andME. Brin got his ambition from his family as his mother worked in NASA, and his father was a mathematician. When Sergey Brin and Larry Page created Google, Anne Wojcicki believed in the duo’s vision and rented her garage. Does that name sound familiar? Well, Anne is Susan Wojcicki’s sister, the CEO of Youtube. Later, in 2007, Brin finally married Anne.
14. Amancio Ortega- $70 Billion
A Spanish entrepreneur and co-founder of Inditex. Not to mention that Inditex is one of the leading fashion retailers. He is also the owner of the luxury fashion brand Zara. As of February 2023, Ortega has a net worth of $70B. Unlike other billionaires, Ortega has kept a low profile and avoids public appearances, making him an enigmatic personality in the business world.
He owns several real estate properties in London, Chicago, Madrid, and New York. Ortega is the wealthiest clothing retailer in Spain. In 1963, he started his business with a small-scale textile factory. Moreover, He owns eight brands and has over 7,500 physical stores globally.
15. Zhong Shanshan- $70 Billion
Zhong Shanshan is a Chinese entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of Nongfu Spring, a Chinese packaged drinking water company. Further, he is also known for his work as the chairman of Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise. Zhong has contributed much toward the vaccine and biopharmaceuticals industry. His net worth is $70 B, making him the richest man in China and the 16th globally.
Many people idolize Zhong for his ability to capitalize on emerging business opportunities. Currently, he is 67 years old. Zhong couldn’t complete his schooling due to China’s stirring cultural revolution. Thus, he started working as a construction worker to sustain his family. Later in 1996, Zhong launched a bottled water company, Hangzhou, which rebranded itself as Nongfu Spring. Unlike other bottled water companies, Zhong didn’t remove natural minerals from the water. This move increased Nongfu Spring’s sales and made Zhong Shanshan one of the wealthiest men in the world.
16. Jim Walton- $61 Billion
An American entrepreneur and the youngest son of the business tycoon Sam Walton. Currently, he is the chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank. However, he is still a board member of Walmart. Jim is considered one of the wealthiest men in the world, with a net worth of $61B. He is best known for contributing to several sectors like education and economic development.
As of now, he is 74 years old and lives in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jim is a private man and lives with his wife and children. He expanded Walmart and gained recognition with his ventures as an individual simultaneously.
17. Rob Walton- $60 Billion
Rob Walton is an American businessman and eldest son of the founder of the retail giant Sam Walton. Upon his father’s demise, Rob became the chairman of Walmart up until 2015. His firm determination and unbeatable business acumen have helped Walmart to reach new heights. As he ranks 17th among the top most affluent men in the world, his net worth is $60B.
Besides, Rob has donated much in several sectors like education, climate change, and economic development. Recently, Rob bought Denver Broncos for $4.65B. Walmart contributes a significant part to Rob’s wealth.
18. Charles Koch- $59 Billion
Charles Koch is an American entrepreneur and humanitarian. He is the owner and chairman of Koch industries. With his unwavering commitment and well-planned execution, Charles made Koch industries one of the most successful private companies in the US. Further, he has also contributed much to politics and philanthropy.
Charles has aided several causes over the years. As of now, he is 87 years old and has a net worth of $59B. Charles is not just a businessman but also an influential personality. People idolize him for his strong beliefs. He owns a 42% ownership stake in Koch Industries. Recently, Charles introduced pollution control equipment in the Koch industries.
19. David Thomson- $53 Billion
David Thomson is a Canadian entrepreneur. He owns Thomson Reuters, a prominent news-providing service. Apart from that, he is also Woodbridge Company’s chairman. The majority of David’s wealth is generated from Woodbridge company’s revenue. Thus, he is among the top most affluent men in the world, with a net worth of $53B. David turned 65 this year.
He lives with his family in Toronto, Canada. Further, David has stakes in Bell Canada and Globe and Mail newspaper. Apart from that, Thomson is an art connoisseur. He owns several rare paintings and artworks by Rembrandt, J. M. W. Turner, Paul Klee, Hammershoi, Edvard Munch, and Egon Schiele. Thus, he became the most prominent collector of paintings by John Constable.
As we know, Thomas has kept a low-key profile since he became a billionaire. In an interview, when asked about his opinion on his competitors, he said, “When you try to live a more balanced life, traditional businessmen think that you are not a real man. But who is not the real man? Are you telling me? You have not taken a weekend with your wife; you have no spare time that you use constructively. You do not have any hobbies. You do not know how to spell Mozart. And here you are telling me that I am weak?”
20. Michael S. Dell- $52 Billion
If you use laptops or computers, you must have heard about Dell. Michael Dell is an American businessman and is currently 20 richest man in the world. He is known as the founder of Dell Technologies. It is one of the largest laptop brands in the market. Dell has a market share of 25% and a market cap of $29B. In 1984, Michael created Dell while he was studying in high school.
As of now, it has over 150000 employees. With a net worth of $52B, Michael Dell is of the wealthiest men in the world. Michael Dell won the Entrepreneur of the Year award at 24. He purchased a penthouse in Manhattan for $100M. It made a record for the most expensive house ever purchased in Manhattan.
Here’s a quick recap of the Top Richest Man in the World.
Conclusion:
So, there you go! This is the complete list of the Richest Man in the World for 2023. However, the positioning varies from day to day. According to reports, Elon Musk will soon retain his number 1 position and become the wealthiest man in the world again. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
This is Karan, a Freelance Entertainment & Tech journalist with over 10 years of experience covering the film and television industry. I have been writing for various publications including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Indiewire and a regular contributor to New Vision Theatres Blog, providing in-depth analysis of Movies, Web Series and interviews with the industry’s top talent.