World's top 15 richest business tycoons, as of December 2024

There are about 2,640 billionaires in the world. Together, they control about $6.4 trillion in assets.

Their success stories span industries from technology and e-commerce to luxury goods, energy, and telecommunications.

Despite their varied business interests, a closer look reveals shared traits in their wealth-building philosophies – a relentless drive for innovation, risk-taking, and the strategic use of leverage and timing.

For many, technological advancement has been a crucial driver while others harnessed traditional industries and global markets, adapting their businesses to new consumer demands. 

Here’s the updated list of the world’s 15-richest tycoons as of December 1, 2024, based on Forbes and Bloomberg data:

#1. Elon Musk, 53

#2. Larry Ellison, 79

#3. Jeff Bezos, 60

#4. Mark Zuckerberg, 40

#5. Bernard Arnault, 75

#6. Sergey Brin, 51

Brin was born in Moscow on August 21, 1973. He was the president of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, until he stepped down in 2019. He remains a co-founder, board member, and major shareholder at Alphabet.

#7. Warren Buffett, 94

#8. Steve Ballmer, 68

#9. Larry Page, 51

#10. Jensen Huang, 61

#11. Mukesh Ambani, 67

#12. Bill Gates, 69

#13. Carlos Slim Helú, 84

#14. Gautam Adani, 62

#15. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, 71