The list of billionaires for 2023 is quite intriguing as there have been several changes in the rankings after another year of reduced wealth accumulation. From 2,668 in 2022 to a smaller number of 2,640 in 2023, the total wealth owned by billionaires has shrunk significantly, falling by a whopping $500 billion and is now less than $12.2 trillion.
From Elon Musk to Mukesh Ambani, the list contains the top 10 billionaires in the world.
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10 billionaires in the world
Here is the list of the world’s top 10 billionaires in 2023:
- Bernard Arnault and family – $211 billion
- Elon Musk – 180 billion dollars
- Jeff Bezos – $114 billion
- Larry Ellison – $107 billion
- Warren Buffett – $106 billion
- Bill Gates – 104 billion dollars
- Michael Bloomberg – $94.5 billion
- Carlos Slim Helu and family – 93 billion dollars
- Mukesh Ambani – $83.4 billion
- Steve Ballmer – $80.7 billion
This list provides an overview of wealth, determined by stock prices and exchange rates as of March 10, 2023. It is inspired by the Forbes Billionaires List, recognizing the fluidity of wealth that can change days after publication. It is important to note that the list contains multigenerational family conglomerates, although wealth factors are attributed to the billionaire’s spouse and offspring when the person in question is the progenitor of said wealth.
For non-founders, a distinction was made this year, separating joint wealth into different members of the list, labeled “split family wealth.” In the case of Russian billionaires, their wealth was calculated based on ownership structures as of February 2022, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent asset transfers to avoid sanctions.
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Billionaires of the world
1. Bernard Arnault
Net worth: $211 billion
Source of wealth: LVMH
Nationality: France
LVMH is managed by Bernard Arnault, who is in charge of a portfolio that includes 75 clothing and cosmetics brands, including prestigious names such as Sephora and Louis Vuitton. Significant acquisition of Tiffany & Co. by LVMH in 2021 for an incredible $15.8 billion, setting a new record for acquisitions of premium brands. Arnault’s holding company, Agache, is backing venture capital firm Aglaé Ventures with tactical investments in companies like Netflix and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. Arnault began buying Christian Dior in 1984 with a $15 million donation from his family’s construction company. He proposed restructuring his holding company Agache in July 2022 to divide equal shares among his five children, who are key to LVMH’s operations.
2. Elon Musk
Net worth: $180 billion
Source of wealth: Tesla, SpaceX
Nationality: United States
Elon Musk is at the forefront of two revolutionary movements: space exploration through SpaceX and electric vehicles through Tesla. Musk, who was born in South Africa, traveled from Canada to the US before entering college. In September 2021, he was on his way to becoming the world’s richest man, helped by a stratospheric rise in shares of Tesla, a company he previously invested in before becoming CEO. Musk’s wealth has declined significantly with news of his April 2022 purchase of Twitter for $44 billion, despite skyrocketing value at SpaceX. The sale of $23 billion worth of Tesla stock to finance the transaction and investor concerns about the growing responsibilities of the CEO’s second role contributed to the decline.
3. Jeff Bezos
Net worth: $114 billion
Source: Amazon
Nationality: United States
Jeff Bezos, who is known for his uncompromising leadership style and business acumen, painstakingly guided Amazon to its position as the world’s largest online retailer. This journey was not without controversy, often causing conflicts with local companies and smaller rivals. Amazon’s diversification efforts have been particularly successful, with Amazon Web Services becoming its most lucrative industry. With a net worth of $90.6 billion as of July, Jeff Bezos currently held the title of the richest person in the world, surpassing the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg. A month later, Amazon made headlines when it paid a whopping $13.7 billion to buy the Whole Foods supermarket business.
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4. Larry Ellison
Net worth: $107 billion
Source: Oracle
Nationality: United States
Larry Ellison, who owns about 35% of Oracle and serves as its chairman, chief technology officer and co-founder, is in charge of the software giant. In 2014, Ellison stepped down as CEO after 37 years in the role. Strategic acquisitions of software companies, such as the historic $28.3 billion purchase of electronic health record vendor Cerner in 2021, have contributed to Oracle’s growth trajectory. In 2020, Ellison moved permanently to the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which he bought almost entirely in 2012 for $300 million. From December 2018 to August 2022, he was a member of the Tesla Board. He still owns about 15 million shares of the electric car maker.
5. Warren Buffett
Net worth: $106 billion
Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Nationality: United States
As the “Oracle of Omaha,” Warren Buffett is considered one of the most successful investors in history. He is in charge of several businesses at Berkshire Hathaway, including Geico, Duracell and the Dairy Queen restaurant franchise. Buffett has pledged to donate more than 99% of his wealth. He started his investment career when he was only 11 years old and filed his tax return at 13 years old. His total charitable giving has exceeded $51 billion, with a large percentage going to the Gates Foundation and its philanthropic initiatives. The Giving Pledge, a campaign encouraging billionaires to pledge to give at least half of their wealth to charity, was launched by Buffett and Bill Gates in 2010.
6. Bill Gates
Net worth: $104 billion
Source: Microsoft
Nationality: United States
Bill Gates, who made his considerable fortune through software powerhouse Microsoft, has diversified his investment portfolio to include carbon-free energy initiatives. In a significant development, Bill and Melinda Gates, after 27 years of marriage, publicly announced their separation in May 2021. Despite this personal transition, they continue to serve together as co-chairs of the Gates Foundation, one of the world’s leading philanthropic organizations. As part of their divorce settlement, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft with the late Paul Allen (who passed away in 2018), transferred a significant amount of shares in public companies to Melinda, valued at an impressive amount of more than $6 billion.
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7. Michael Bloomberg
Net worth: $94.5 billion
Source: Bloomberg LP
Nationality: United States
Michael Bloomberg, co-founder of the colossal financial information and media conglomerate Bloomberg LP in 1981, played a key role in providing the initial financial backing that fueled the company’s rise. Incredibly, he maintains a whopping 88% ownership stake in Bloomberg LP, a corporate entity that boasts expected revenues exceeding the staggering $12 billion mark. Bloomberg’s career trajectory began in 1966, beginning with an entry-level position at the respected investment bank Salomon Brothers. However, his professional journey with Salomon Brothers ended 15 years later, marked by his termination.
8. Carlos Slim Helu and family
Net worth: $93 billion
Source: Grupo Carso SAB
Nationality: Mexico
The richest person in Mexico, Carlos Slim Hel, together with his family, runs América Móvil, the largest mobile phone company in Latin America. In 1990, Slim, in cooperation with foreign telecom partners, established a holding company in Telmex, the only Mexican telephone service provider, and then merged it into América Móvil. His wide range of clients includes Mexican companies in the construction, consumer products, mining and real estate industries. He previously owned 17% of The New York Times. In fact, Slim’s diverse and extensive art collection is housed in the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City, which was created by his son-in-law, Fernando Romero. One of the leading companies in Latin America, Grupo Carso, is 79% owned by the Slim family.
9. Mukesh Ambani
Net worth: $83.4 billion
Source: Reliance Industries
Nationality: India
Reliance Industries, a conglomerate with annual revenues of $110 billion and holdings in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecommunications and retail, is headed by Mukesh Ambani. Reliance was started by his late father, Dhirubhai Ambani, in 1966 as a modest textile factory. It has grown considerably since then. Mukesh and his younger brother, Anil, shared the family business after their father’s death in 2002. Jio, Reliance’s telecom and broadband service, is noteworthy and has close to 450 million members. Reliance launched Jio Financial Services in August 2023. With plans to invest $80 billion in renewable energy programs over the next 10 to 15 years, along with building a new plant alongside an existing refinery, Mukesh Ambani’s vision for the future is turning Reliance towards green energy.
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10. Steve Ballmer
Source: $80.7 billion
Nationality: United States
Source: Microsoft (former CEO), LA Clippers, multiple investments
From 2000 to 2014, Microsoft was led by likable former CEO Steve Ballmer. Ballmer joined Microsoft as its 30th employee in 1980 after earning an MBA from Stanford. He led the business through various challenges, such as the aftermath of the dot-com crash and trying to catch up to competitors like Google in terms of search capabilities and Apple in terms of mobile devices. The same year he left Microsoft, Ballmer made headlines by paying a whopping $2 billion for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. Since 2014, he has significantly increased his charitable giving, contributing more than $2 billion to a donor-advised fund focused on fostering economic mobility. Steve and his wife Connie contributed $425 million to the University of Oregon in 2022.
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Categories: Trends
Source: newstars.edu.vn