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In today’s ambitious and entrepreneurial society, some extraordinary individuals have achieved unimaginable wealth. These visionary and innovative leaders have climbed to the very top, becoming some of the world’s richest people. This is no small achievement, considering that the combined wealth of the top 10 wealthiest individuals exceeds the GDP of many countries. These billionaires primarily come from the technology, finance, and retail sectors. However, the growing wealth gap between them and the less fortunate is a growing global concern.
This article will introduce you to the top 10 richest people in the world, highlighting their remarkable achievements, entrepreneurial skills, and their significant impact on the global economy.
| Name | Net Worth (in $ Billions) | Source of Wealth | Country |
| Elon Musk | $253.2 | Tesla, SpaceX | United States |
| Bernard Arnault & family | $173.0 | LVMH | France |
| Jeff Bezos | $152.6 | Amazon | United States |
| Larry Ellison | $137.6 | Oracle | United States |
| Larry Page | $115.4 | United States | |
| Warren Buffett | $115.1 | Berkshire Hathaway | United States |
| Mark Zuckerberg | $111.6 | United States | |
| Sergey Brin | $110.7 | United States | |
| Bill Gates | $109.3 | Microsoft | United States |
| Steve Ballmer | $99.9 | Microsoft | United States |
Elon Musk
Elon Musk is a 52-year-old billionaire who lives in Austin, Texas, and is a citizen of the United States. He’s really rich, in fact, the richest person in the world! He’s the boss of some famous companies like Tesla, which makes electric cars, and SpaceX, which explores space.
Elon owns a big chunk, about 23 percent, of Tesla, and most of his money, about two-thirds of it, comes from how well Tesla does. In October 2022, he made big news when he bought Twitter for a whopping $44 billion.
Back in 2010, Elon took Tesla to the stock market, and since then, the company has become super valuable in 2020 and 2021. That made Elon one of the top 10 richest people in the world in September 2021. At its highest point in November 2021, his money reached an incredible $320 billion.
Bernard Arnault & Family
Bernard Arnault, aged 74 and residing in Paris, is the world’s second richest person. He hails from France and serves as the CEO and chairman of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), the world’s biggest luxury goods company. LVMH boasts around 70 prestigious fashion and cosmetics brands under its umbrella, including famous names like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora. A notable achievement for LVMH was its acquisition of Tiffany & Co. in January 2021 for a staggering $15.8 billion.
Arnault’s family plays a significant role in various sectors within the vast LVMH empire. In January 2023, he appointed his daughter Delphine to lead Dior, which happens to be the second-largest brand in the group.
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos, aged 59, resides in Medina, Washington, and holds US citizenship. In July 2021, he made the decision to step down from his role as CEO of the e-commerce giant Amazon, while retaining his position as chairman. In the same month, he took a journey to space on a rocket developed by Blue Origin, a private space exploration company he established and generously financed with billions of dollars.
Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison, who is 79 years old, lives in Lanai, Hawaii, and is a citizen of the United States. He’s a big deal in the world of tech. Larry co-founded a company called Oracle back in 1977 and was its CEO until 2014. Now, he’s the chairman and Chief Technology Officer of the company.
In 2012, Larry made a lot of people talk when he bought the Hawaiian island of Lanai for a whopping $300 million. He didn’t stop there; he also dabbled in investments, like getting a big chunk of Tesla and even serving on their board of directors from 2018 to 2022.
Larry Page
Larry Page, a 50-year-old entrepreneur, lives in Palo Alto, California, and is a proud citizen of the United States. He’s famous for co-founding Google in 1998 with his Stanford PhD buddy, Sergey Brin. Larry initially led Google as its CEO until 2001, and he took the helm again from 2011 to 2015.
Currently, he’s a board member of Alphabet, which is Google’s parent company. Larry Page is also a big shareholder in the company, which means he has a significant say in its affairs.
Beyond his work at Google, Larry played a crucial role in a space exploration company called Planetary Resources, where he invested in its founding.
In a nutshell, Larry Page is a key figure in the tech world, especially when it comes to Google and Alphabet.
Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett, aged 93, and residing in Omaha, Nebraska, is a renowned investment guru known as the “Oracle of Omaha.” He leads Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate with holdings in various companies like Geico, Duracell, and Dairy Queen.
In 2010, Warren Buffett, together with Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, launched the Giving Pledge initiative. This initiative encourages billionaires to give away at least 50% of their wealth to charities. Warren Buffett, in particular, is dedicated to this cause and has committed to donating 99% of his wealth.
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg, aged 39, resides in Palo Alto, California, and holds US citizenship. He’s the co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, the company behind Facebook. He began working on Facebook in 2004 when he was just 19 and a student at Harvard University, where he studied computer science and psychology. Facebook originally started as a way to connect names with photos of students on campus.
In 2006, Facebook opened its doors to anyone at least 13 years old with a valid email address. In May 2012, Zuckerberg took the company public, and by December 2016, he was ranked as the 10th most powerful person in the world by Forbes. Currently, he owns around 13 percent of the company’s stock.
Sergey Brin
Sergey Brin is a 50-year-old American citizen who lives in Los Altos, California. He is known for co-founding Google with his Stanford PhD colleague, Larry Page, back in 1998. Originally from Russia, Sergey Brin started as Google’s technology president and later focused on special projects, including the creation of Google Glass, a wearable device with voice-activated “smart glasses.” Currently, he is a board member of Alphabet, which is Google’s parent company. Sergey Brin also holds a significant controlling stake in Google.
Bill Gates
Bill Gates, who is currently 67 years old, lives in Medina, Washington, and is a U.S. citizen. In 1987, Forbes first recognized him as a billionaire. He held the title of the world’s richest person from 1995 to 2017, with a few exceptions in 2008 and from 2010 to 2013.
In 2021, Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, finalised their divorce, and Melinda received at least $6 billion worth of stocks as part of the settlement. According to Forbes’ estimates, Bill Gates’ wealth increased by about $500 million from May 1 to June 1, 2023, allowing him to move up to the fifth position in the list of the world’s richest people.
Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer, who is 67 years old and lives in Hunts Point, Washington, is a U.S. citizen. He’s well-known for being a classmate of Bill Gates during their time at Harvard University. Ballmer took over as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014, and his journey with the company started in 1980 when he became its 30th employee. Interestingly, he left his MBA program at Stanford University to join Microsoft.
In the year he retired from Microsoft, Steve Ballmer made big news by buying the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for an astonishing $2 billion. This purchase set a new record for the highest price ever paid for an NBA team at that time.
FAQs on Top 10 Billionaires in the World 2023
Who is the richest person in the world in 2023?
The richest person in the world in 2023 is Elon Musk, with a net worth of $253.2 billion. He is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX
Who is the second richest person in 2023?
The second richest person in 2023 is Bernard Arnault, with a net worth of $173.0 billion. He is the CEO and chairman of LVMH, a luxury goods company based in France.
What is Elon Musk's source of wealth?
Elon Musk's primary sources of wealth are Tesla, a company that makes electric cars, and SpaceX, a company focused on space exploration
What are some of the famous brands under LVMH, led by Bernard Arnault?
LVMH owns numerous prestigious fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moet & Chandon, and Sephora.
Why did Jeff Bezos step down as CEO of Amazon?
In July 2021, Jeff Bezos decided to step down as CEO of Amazon but remained as chairman. He shifted his focus to space exploration by investing in Blue Origin, a private space exploration company.
