According to Hurun Global Rich Mukesh Ambani fell below the top 10 list of the world’s top 10 after shrinking his wealth by Rs 1 lakh over the past year. Debt levels rise. Despite the losses, Ambani remains the richest person in Asia.
Please read also: Mukesh Ambani exits the top 10 richest list of the world
Elon Musk regained the title of the world’s richest man for the fourth time in five years at the age of 53. He became the first individual to exceed the $400 billion mark, with his net worth soaring by $189 billion (82%). Analysts attribute the surge to Tesla’s stock price “Trump effect”, which was significantly boosted after Donald Trump’s strong political comeback.
Please read also: Elon Musk is once again the richest man in the world. The “Trump effect” in the action?
61-year-old Amazon founder Jeff Bezos retained his position as the second richest man, with a net worth of $26.6 billion, a 44% increase. His rise was driven primarily by Amazon’s stock performance as investors showed confidence in the company’s cost-cutting measures and actively expanded to artificial intelligence and cloud services. Mark Zuckerberg, 40, entered the top three for the first time, with a net worth of $242 billion, and before another $84 billion. His strong confidence in Meta’s AI advancement and technological infrastructure fueled his wealth growth. In addition to his financial success, Zuckerberg made headlines for his extreme fitness regime, further enhancing his public image.
Interesting facts about the world’s top billionaires
While you can check out the following list, let’s look at some interesting facts as well.
The richest people in the world make headlines not only for their own destiny, but also for their extravagant lifestyle, philanthropic efforts and high-risk business decisions. From Warren Buffett’s billion-dollar donations to record luxury deals and billion-dollar divorces, financial elites continue to shape global markets and economies. With changes in stock performance, political development and corporate strategy, the lives of these billionaires remain a source of conspiracy, emphasizing the evolving nature of extreme wealth.
Warren Buffett leads billionaire philanthropy
Although wealth accumulation ranks first, some billionaires focus on philanthropy. In 2024, Warren Buffett became the most generous donor, donating $5.3 billion to various reasons. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation received the largest share of more than $4 billion, while the Howard Buffett Foundation, Sherwood Foundation and Novo Foundation each received about $285 million. Buffett further demonstrated his commitment to charity in November and pledged to additional stocks to the Family Foundation as part of his long-term commitment to donate more than 99% of his wealth.
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP, is a former mayor of New York City, donated $3.7 billion to a variety of causes, including education, arts, environmental programs and public health. Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and his wife Patty Quillin donated $1.1 billion to the Hastings Fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Luxury real estate: demand in Malibu and Paris
Billionaires continue to invest heavily in luxury real estate. In one of the most expensive residential sales in California history, Oakley founder James Jannard sold his Malibu estate for $210 million. Meanwhile, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’s widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, bought a beachfront home in Paradise Cove in Malibu for $94 million, expanding her property holdings.
In Europe, Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega, the founder of Inditex, has made a major move in the Paris real estate market. He bought a 10,000-square-meter office building at 14 Helvey Street for more than 200 million euros, one of the most famous real estate deals in central Paris in 2024.
High-risk divorce shakes billionaire’s fate
Several high-profile divorces have also made headlines for billionaires in the world. In South Korea, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-Won divorced his wife Roh Yeong in 2024, with a settlement estimated at $1 billion, making it one of the country’s largest divorce spending.
In the United States, Tony Pritzker is the heir to the wealth of Hyatt Hotels, and Jeanne Pritzker finally settled for a divorce in May 2024 after 33 years of marriage. Although the details of the settlement have not been largely disclosed, the asset sector is expected to be the most expensive in recent years.
Billionaire’s main commercial acquisition
The billionaire-backed company made its biggest acquisition of 2024. Mars announced a $35.9 billion deal to acquire Kellanova, parent company of Pringles, Eggo and Cheez-it. This acquisition is expected to greatly expand Mars’ presence in the global snack industry.
Exxonmobil completed a $64.5 billion acquisition of pioneer natural resources, strengthening its position in the oil-rich Permian Basin. In China, Miniso founder Ye Guofu further expanded his retail empire by buying a 29% stake in the supermarket chain for $900 million.
As the world’s wealthiest people continue to accumulate and distribute wealth, their financial transfers (whether charity, investment or personal expenses) have become the subject of global obsession.
