The ultra-rich exert tremendous influence over global finance, governance, and charitable initiatives. According to Forbes, the total number of billionaires worldwide stands at 3,028 as of 2025. Leading them all in net worth is Elon Musk, head of Tesla and SpaceX.
Those featured on this elite list are part of a rarefied echelon, many having established tech behemoths and retaining substantial equity in their enterprises. Instead of divesting shares, these magnates often leverage their holdings as collateral, enabling them to sidestep capital gains taxes—potentially indefinitely, or until transferred to heirs. Additionally, an array of tax optimization strategies allows some of them to report minimal taxable income, resulting in negligible tax bills in select years.
Because much of their fortunes are tied to market-traded securities, these tycoons' wealth shifts with share price volatility. The following are the 10 most affluent figures globally, based on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, accurate as of May 2, 2025.
Index, accurate as of May 2, 2025.
Elon Musk
Age: 53
Country: U.S.
Titles: CEO, Tesla and SpaceX
Wealth: $332 billion
Tesla Holdings: 13% ($115B)
SpaceX Stake: 42% ($136B, private)
Other Ventures: The Boring Company ($3.33B), Neuralink ($2.07B), xAI ($20.1B)
Born in South Africa, Musk pursued higher education in North America before founding Zip2. He later co-launched PayPal and took major ownership in Tesla in 2004. Tesla's product lineup includes electric vehicles and energy systems. Musk is also at the helm of SpaceX and xAI, an artificial intelligence enterprise formed in 2023. In 2025, xAI merged with X (formerly Twitter), forming XAI Holdings, of which Musk owns one-third.
Jeff Bezos
Age: 61
Country: U.S.
Founder: Amazon
Wealth: $212 billion
Amazon Equity: 8.6% ($173B)
Other Interests: Blue Origin ($15B), The Washington Post ($250M), Koru ($500M), $23B cash
After departing D.E. Shaw in 1994, Bezos created Amazon in his garage. Initially an online bookstore, Amazon is now a global commerce leader. Bezos relinquished the CEO role in 2021 and now serves as executive chair. His portfolio includes the aerospace firm Blue Origin and the historic newspaper The Washington Post. In 2023, he acquired the yacht Koru for half a billion dollars.
Mark Zuckerberg
Age: 40
Country: U.S.
CEO: Meta Platforms
Net Worth: $203 billion
Meta Stake: 13% ($196B)
Liquid Assets: $6.35 billion
Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook at Harvard in 2004. Today, Meta owns Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and more. He and his wife, Priscilla Chan, lead the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, targeting major global challenges through technology and philanthropy.
Larry Ellison
Age: 80
Country: U.S.
Chair and CTO: Oracle
Wealth: $168 billion
Oracle Shareholding: 41% ($126B)
Other Assets: Tesla shares ($12.6B), $28.7B in cash
Ellison co-created Oracle, a pioneer in relational database software. He led the company as CEO for nearly four decades. He also briefly served on Tesla’s board. Known for his philanthropy, Ellison donated $200M for cancer research in 2016.
Bill Gates
Age: 69
Country: U.S.
Co-founder: Microsoft
Worth: $166 billion
Microsoft Shares: 1% ($27.5B)
Other Holdings: Cascade Investment; $78.7B in cash
Gates launched Microsoft in 1975, leaving Harvard to do so. Besides software, Microsoft produces hardware, gaming devices, and offers cloud services. Gates stepped down from Microsoft’s board in 2020 and focuses heavily on philanthropic efforts.
Warren Buffett
Age: 94
Country: U.S.
Role: CEO, Berkshire Hathaway
Assets: $166 billion
Company Holdings: 37.4% ($164B)
Cash Holdings: $1.55 billion
A legendary value investor, Buffett transformed Berkshire Hathaway into a diversified conglomerate. He’s known for long-term strategies and famously frugal lifestyle. He’s also a generous philanthropist, pledging most of his fortune to charity.
Bernard Arnault
Age: 76
Country: France
CEO: LVMH
Wealth: $153 billion
LVMH Interest: 48% ($133B)
Cash Reserves: $20.5 billion
Arnault leads LVMH, the dominant luxury goods empire, with brands like Louis Vuitton and Sephora. He restructured his family’s construction business into a real estate venture before acquiring Christian Dior and ultimately gaining control of LVMH.
Steve Ballmer
Age: 69
Country: U.S.
Former CEO: Microsoft; Owner of L.A. Clippers
Fortune: $148 billion
Microsoft Stake: 4% ($136B)
Other Properties: L.A. Clippers ($5.68B), Intuit Dome ($2B), $4.15B in cash
Ballmer succeeded Gates at Microsoft and guided the company for over a decade. After retiring, he purchased the Clippers NBA franchise. His fortune stems largely from stock appreciation.
Larry Page
Age: 52
Country: U.S.
Co-founder: Alphabet
Net Worth: $146 billion
Alphabet Equity: 6% ($126.3B)
Cash: $20.1 billion
Page co-created Google in 1998, introducing innovations in web indexing. Google grew into Alphabet, encompassing YouTube, Android, and various other ventures. Page has also funded futuristic startups like flying cars and asteroid mining.
Sergey Brin
Age: 51
Country: U.S.
Co-founder: Alphabet
Total Wealth: $138 billion
Alphabet Share: 6% ($117.7B)
Cash Position: $20.2 billion
Brin partnered with Page to develop the world’s most-used search engine. Though no longer involved in day-to-day operations, he remains a board member and continues to back tech-forward ventures.
Top 10 Richest People (May 2, 2025)
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Elon Musk
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Jeff Bezos
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Mark Zuckerberg
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Larry Ellison
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Bill Gates
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Warren Buffett
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Bernard Arnault
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Steve Ballmer
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Larry Page
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Sergey Brin
Who Tops the List in 2025?
Elon Musk retains the title of the wealthiest individual, with a fortune of $332 billion.
Most Affluent Woman
Alice Walton holds the crown among women, amassing $115 billion primarily from Walmart shares.
Final Thoughts
Joining the billionaire ranks may demand groundbreaking ideas, entrepreneurial tenacity, and strategic execution. While inherited fortunes play a role, most on this list forged their empires through ingenuity, bold risk-taking, and an eye for opportunity.
