Jean MartinForbes unveils its 2024 list of billionaires, revealing an unprecedented increase in the number of billionaires worldwide and their collective wealth.
In 2024, there were 141 billionaires compared to the previous year, totaling 2,781 individuals on the list, marking a significant rise in billionaire status.
Record-Breaking Combined Worth:
The combined net worth of billionaires will reach $14.2 trillion in 2024, reflecting a substantial increase of $2 trillion from the previous year, setting new records.
Two-thirds of billionaires have seen their wealth increase, with the top 20 billionaires adding $700 billion to their combined worth since 2023.
The United States leads with a record 813 billionaires, followed by China with 473 and India with 200, setting a new record for the latter.
Notable Figures and Records:
The 2024 list surpasses records set in 2021, with 26 more billionaires and their combined net worth rising by $1.1 trillion since then.
Bernard Arnault and his family claim the top spot with a net worth of $233 billion, attributed to their leadership in LVMH, a luxury fashion and cosmetics conglomerate.
Elon Musk’s Ranking and Ventures:
Elon Musk ranks 2nd with a net worth of $195 billion, impacted by ventures such as Tesla and SpaceXeX and his acquisition and rebranding of Twitter as X.
Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg:
Jeff Bezos follows closely with a net worth of $195 billion, while Mark Zuckerberg ranks fourth with a net worth of $177 billion, representing Amazon and Facebook, respectively.
Other Prominent Names on the List:
The list includes notable figures such as Rupert Murdoch, Jerry Jones, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, and Taylor Swift, showcasing diverse industries and achievements.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers emerges as the wealthiest woman with a net worth of $99.5 billion, followed by Alice Walton, Julia Koch, Jacqueline Mars, and MacKenzie Scott.
