Record Number of Billionaires: The Wealth Surge Continues
The world has reached an unprecedented milestone with the highest number of billionaires recorded to date. In this 39th edition of the Forbes billionaire list, there are now a staggering 3,028 billionaires—an unparalleled figure since the list’s inception. According to Chase Peterson-Whithorn, a Forbes editor, the total wealth of these billionaires has increased by $2 billion from last year, bringing their collective net worth to an estimated $16.1 trillion.
“It’s a great time to be a billionaire,” Peterson-Whithorn remarked.
How Does Forbes Compile the Billionaires List?
The process of creating the list is comprehensive, involving more than 100 journalists worldwide. This team meticulously evaluates a wide array of factors, including public company stock prices, private company valuations, investments, and the personal expenditures of billionaires.
“We analyze everything from art collections and yachts to car collections and even dinosaur fossils,” Peterson-Whithorn explained. “Ultimately, we calculate their total assets and subtract their debts.”
While some billionaires voluntarily share their financial information with Forbes, those who opt for privacy are investigated through various means, including government records, court documents, offshore data, and leaked information. The journalists often reach out to the billionaires themselves, their associates, and even their competitors to uncover details that many billionaires might prefer to keep under wraps.
Who Are the Richest Individuals on This Year’s List?
The United States tops the list with 902 billionaires, followed by China and Hong Kong with 516, and India in third place with 205 billionaires.
Here are this year’s top 9 wealthiest individuals, along with their estimated net worth and sources of wealth:
- Elon Musk – $342 billion (Tesla and SpaceX)
- Mark Zuckerberg – $216 billion (Facebook/Meta)
- Jeff Bezos – $215 billion (Amazon)
- Larry Ellison – $192 billion (Oracle)
- Warren Buffett – $154 billion (Berkshire Hathaway)
- Larry Page – $144 billion (Google/Alphabet)
- Sergey Brin – $138 billion (Google/Alphabet)
- Amancio Ortega – $124 billion (Inditex – Zara and other brands)
- Steve Ballmer – $118 billion (Microsoft)
Peterson-Whithorn noted that public perception of billionaires has shifted significantly, particularly following the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement in response to the 2008 financial crisis.
