As of January 1, 2025, Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person, with a net worth exceeding $400 billion, making him the first billionaire to achieve such a milestone, according to a Forbes report released Wednesday.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and founder of SpaceX, heads a list of the world’s wealthiest individuals, whose combined net worth now totals $1.9 trillion, up from $1.8 trillion just a month prior.
The top 10 billionaires, largely drawn from the tech, retail, and luxury sectors, continue to shape industries and global markets on a massive scale.
Notably, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has entered the top 10 for the first time, reflecting the rapid rise of the semiconductor industry.
Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 richest individuals in the world as of January 1, 2025:
1. Elon Musk
Net worth: ₦421.2 billion
Source: Tesla, SpaceX, X, xAI
Age: 53
Citizenship: U.S.
Musk’s fortune surged by ₦91 billion in December, primarily due to SpaceX’s new valuation of ₦350 billion. Additionally, his new role as co-head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) contributed to his prominence.
2. Jeff Bezos
Net worth: ₦233.5 billion
Source: Amazon
Age: 60
Citizenship: U.S.
Bezos regained the second position after Amazon’s stock rose 5% in December, adding ₦10 billion to his wealth.
3. Larry Ellison
Net worth: ₦209.7 billion
Source: Oracle
Age: 80
Citizenship: U.S.
Despite a ₦17 billion drop due to Oracle’s stock decline, Ellison remains firmly in the top three.
4. Mark Zuckerberg
Net worth: ₦202.5 billion
Source: Meta (Facebook)
Age: 40
Citizenship: U.S.
Zuckerberg saw a slight increase in his net worth as Meta’s stock rose by 1.9% in December.
5. Bernard Arnault
Net worth: ₦168.8 billion
Source: LVMH
Age: 75
Citizenship: France
Arnault, the luxury goods mogul, gained ₦8.5 billion following a rise in LVMH’s stock price.
6. Larry Page
Net worth: ₦157.9 billion
Source: Google (Alphabet)
Age: 51
Citizenship: U.S.
Page continues to hold a strong position among the wealthiest individuals, maintaining his place in the top rankings.
7. Sergey Brin
Net worth: ₦153.4 billion
Source: Google (Alphabet)
Age: 50
Citizenship: U.S.
Like Page, Brin continues to benefit from Alphabet’s dominance in the tech industry.
8. Warren Buffett
Net worth: ₦139.6 billion
Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 94
Citizenship: U.S.
Buffett’s net worth dropped by ₦8.9 billion in December, pushing him down from sixth to eighth place.
9. Steve Ballmer
Net worth: ₦123.5 billion
Source: Microsoft
Age: 68
Citizenship: U.S.
Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, saw his wealth fall by ₦500 million in December.
10. Jensen Huang
Net worth: ₦118 billion
Source: Nvidia
Age: 61
Citizenship: U.S.
Huang joins the top 10 for the first time after Nvidia’s stock skyrocketed by 171% in 2024.
Forbes notes that all but one of the top 10 richest people are Americans, and all are male.
Musk’s fortune is primarily tied to his stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures.
The billionaire rankings continue to fluctuate with stock market movements, reflecting the competitive and volatile nature of the global wealth landscape.
