20 Richest People in the World (How Many Do You Recognize?)
Curious who the richest people in the world are? Today’s biggest fortunes belong to a mix of tech founders, retail moguls, and investing giants.
Their paths to wealth may be different, but one thing is clear: their influence stretches far beyond their bank accounts.
How many of these billionaires do you recognize on the list? Comment and let us know.
20. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
Net worth: $96.7 billion
As the granddaughter of L’Oréal founder Eugène Schueller, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers inherited one of the world’s largest cosmetics empires. Her wealth stems from her controlling stake in the beauty giant that continues to dominate global markets.
- Source of wealth: L’Oréal
- Age: 72
19. Carlos Slim Helu
Net worth: $97.9 billion
Helu built his fortune through América Móvil, Latin America’s largest mobile network operator. His diverse business portfolio also spans telecommunications, construction, mining, and retail across multiple countries.
- Source of wealth: Telecom
- Age: 85
18. Mukesh Ambani
Net worth: $103.6 billion
India’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani, controls Reliance Industries, a massive conglomerate with interests in petrochemicals, oil refining, and telecommunications. Ambani has been expanding aggressively into retail and digital services, transforming his traditional energy business.
- Source of wealth: Diversified
- Age: 68
17. Alice Walton
Net worth: $105.6 billion
The only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Alice has focused much of her energy on philanthropy and the arts. She founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas and remains one of the largest individual shareholders in the retail giant.
- Source of wealth: Walmart
- Age: 75
16. Bill Gates
Net worth: $109 billion
Microsoft’s co-founder transformed the computer industry and later became one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists. Although he has donated billions through the Gates Foundation, his remaining Microsoft shares and diverse investments keep him among the ultra-wealthy.
- Source of wealth: Microsoft
- Age: 69
15. Michael Bloomberg
Net worth: $109.4 billion
The former New York City mayor built Bloomberg LP into a financial information empire that dominates Wall Street. Bloomberg’s terminal systems became indispensable tools for traders and analysts worldwide, generating massive recurring revenue.
- Source of wealth: Bloomberg LP
- Age: 83
14. Jim Walton
Net worth: $114.1 billion
Another heir to the Walmart fortune, Jim Walton is the youngest son of founder Sam Walton. He serves on the company’s board and also oversees Arvest Bank Group, with most of his wealth coming from his Walmart stake.
- Source of wealth: Walmart
- Age: 77
13. Rob Walton
Net worth: $116.8 billion
The eldest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton served as the company’s chairman for over two decades. He recently made headlines by purchasing the Denver Broncos NFL team.
- Source of wealth: Walmart
- Age: 80
12. Amancio Ortega
Net worth: $118.2 billion
The Spanish fashion mogul built the Inditex empire, which includes the globally successful Zara fashion brand. Ortega revolutionized fast fashion by creating a supply chain that could bring runway trends to stores in just weeks.
- Source of wealth: Zara
- Age: 89
11. Michael Dell
Net worth: $131.2 billion
Michael Dell built his fortune through Dell Technologies, where his direct-to-consumer model reshaped the computer industry. He also manages significant investments through MSD Partners, a private firm he founded to grow his assets.
- Source of wealth: Dell Technologies
- Age: 60
10. Warren Buffett
Net worth: $147.3 billion
Buffett built his fortune through long-term investments with Berkshire Hathaway, demonstrating that patience and discipline can lead to massive wealth creation. His value investing philosophy and annual shareholder letters have influenced generations of investors worldwide.
- Source of wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
- Age: 94
9. Steve Ballmer
Net worth: $152.5 billion
As Microsoft’s CEO for 14 years, Steve Ballmer presided over major growth in enterprise software and Windows.
Today, he owns the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team and remains one of Microsoft’s largest individual shareholders, keeping him firmly among the world’s wealthiest.
- Source of wealth: Microsoft
- Age: 69
8. Bernard Arnault
Net worth: $153.5 billion
The French luxury goods king controls LVMH, home to prestigious brands like Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, and Hennessy. Arnault has masterfully expanded his empire through strategic acquisitions, including Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari.
- Source of wealth: LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy)
- Age: 76
7. Jensen Huang
Net worth: $157.9 billion
Nvidia’s co-founder and CEO rode the artificial intelligence boom to extraordinary wealth as his company’s chips became essential for AI development. Huang’s vision of parallel computing transformed Nvidia from a gaming graphics company into an AI powerhouse.
- Source of wealth: Semiconductors
- Age: 62
6. Sergey Brin
Net worth: $162.9 billion
Google’s co-founder developed the PageRank algorithm, which became the foundation of the world’s most dominant search engine. Brin has shifted his focus to ambitious projects through Alphabet’s experimental division, including self-driving vehicles and life extension research.
- Source of wealth: Google
- Age: 52
5. Larry Page
Net worth: $175 billion
The other half of Google’s founding duo, Page conceived the original idea for the search engine during his Stanford PhD studies. He has been pursuing futuristic transportation projects, including flying cars and electric aircraft through his companies.
- Source of wealth: Google
- Age: 52
4. Jeff Bezos
Net worth: $241 billion
Amazon’s founder transformed online retail and created the world’s largest cloud computing platform through AWS. Bezos has stepped back from day-to-day operations to focus on space exploration through his Blue Origin venture.
- Source of wealth: Amazon
- Age: 61
3. Mark Zuckerberg
Net worth: $258.7 billion
Facebook’s co-founder built the world’s largest social media platform and has been aggressively investing in virtual and augmented reality through Meta. Zuckerberg’s bet on the metaverse represents one of the biggest pivots in tech history.
- Source of wealth: Meta/Facebook
- Age: 41
2. Larry Ellison
Net worth: $281.8 billion
Oracle’s co-founder created one of the world’s most important database software companies, powering countless enterprises globally. The tech veteran has also invested heavily in Tesla and owns most of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
- Source of wealth: Oracle
- Age: 81
1. Elon Musk
Net worth: $425.7 billion
The world’s richest person leads multiple groundbreaking companies, including Tesla, which has revolutionized the electric vehicle industry, and SpaceX, which has spearheaded space exploration missions.
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) and his ventures into AI and brain-computer interfaces continue to generate massive attention and wealth.
- Source of wealth: Tesla, SpaceX
- Age: 54
Net worth figures are based on data from August 27, 2025, as reported by the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list. These wealth estimates fluctuate daily based on stock market movements and other factors.
