Picture this: a world where wealth doesn’t just open doors—it builds empires, reshapes industries, and occasionally launches rockets into the cosmos. In 2025, the richest person in the world isn’t just a title; it’s a testament to vision, grit, and the kind of ambition that turns dreams into trillion-dollar realities. From tech titans to luxury moguls, these individuals command fortunes that dwarf the economies of entire nations. Let’s dive into the lives and legacies of the top ten wealthiest on the planet.
Top 10 Richest People in the World, as of March 2025
Here’s the latest lineup of the world’s wealthiest individuals, based on the most current data available as of March 6, 2025. Net worth figures fluctuate with markets, but this snapshot reflects their standings today.
1. Elon Musk
● Net Worth: $359.5 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, The Boring Company, Neuralink, X Corp
● Country: United States
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Musk showed an early aptitude for technology, teaching himself to code at age 10. He moved to the U.S. in the 1990s, attending the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned degrees in physics and economics. His entrepreneurial journey began with Zip2 (sold for $307 million) and X.com (which became PayPal, sold to eBay for $1.5 billion).
Musk’s wealth exploded with Tesla’s rise as a leader in electric vehicles and SpaceX’s dominance in private spaceflight, valued at $350 billion in 2025. His work with xAI (AI research) and Neuralink (neurotechnology) reflects his futuristic vision. In 2022, he acquired Twitter (now X) for $44 billion, reshaping its role in social discourse.
Known for his ambitious goals—like colonizing Mars—Musk’s fortune dipped by $62 billion in February 2025 due to Tesla stock volatility but rebounded with SpaceX’s success. He remains the richest person in the world, a title he’s held since May 2024.
2. Mark Zuckerberg
● Net Worth: $226 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)
● Country: United States
Born in 1984 in White Plains, New York, Zuckerberg was a coding prodigy who created early software like “ZuckNet” for his family. He launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm in 2004, dropping out to focus on it full-time.
Meta’s evolution into a social media titan, with 3.9 billion monthly active users across its platforms in 2025, drives his wealth. His pivot to AI and the metaverse—despite early skepticism—has paid off, with Meta’s stock soaring.
Zuckerberg overtook Jeff Bezos as the world’s second-richest person in early 2025 after Amazon’s stock stumbled. His philanthropy via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative focuses on education and health, though he retains tight control over Meta’s direction.
3. Jeff Bezos
● Net Worth: $225 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Amazon, Blue Origin, The Washington Post
● Country: United States
Born in 1964 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bezos graduated from Princeton with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. He worked on Wall Street before founding Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore.
Amazon’s transformation into an e-commerce and cloud computing giant (via AWS) made Bezos the richest person in the world until 2021. Blue Origin, his aerospace venture, aims to rival SpaceX, while his ownership of The Washington Post adds media influence.
A $23 billion drop in February 2025 due to an 11% Amazon stock decline pushed him to No. 3. Divorced in 2019, he transferred 25% of his Amazon stake to ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, yet his fortune remains colossal.
4. Bernard Arnault & Family
● Net Worth: $189 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany & Co.)
● Country: France
Born in 1949 in Roubaix, France, Arnault studied engineering at École Polytechnique. He took over his father’s construction firm before pivoting to luxury goods, acquiring Christian Dior in 1985.
As chairman of LVMH, Arnault built the world’s largest luxury conglomerate, with 75 brands spanning fashion, cosmetics, and jewelry. His family—including five children who hold key roles—helps manage the empire.
The only non-American in the top five, Arnault briefly held the richest person in the world title in 2024. His wealth dipped slightly in 2025 due to luxury market fluctuations but remains robust.
5. Larry Ellison
● Net Worth: $179 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Oracle
● Country: United States
Born in 1944 in New York City, Ellison was raised by his aunt and uncle in Chicago. He dropped out of college twice before founding Oracle in 1977, inspired by a paper on relational databases.
Oracle’s enterprise software and cloud solutions power his fortune. A Tesla investor and board member (2018–2022), Ellison also owns 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai, bought for $300 million in 2012.
Known for his lavish lifestyle—yacht racing, private islands—Ellison’s wealth reflects Oracle’s steady growth, even as he steps back from day-to-day leadership.
6. Bill Gates
● Net Worth: $164 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Microsoft, Investments
● Country: United States
Born in 1955 in Seattle, Gates was a tech prodigy who co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. He dropped out of Harvard to focus on the company, which revolutionized personal computing.
Microsoft’s Windows and Office suite built his initial wealth, now diversified through Cascade Investment. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, co-founded with his ex-wife, has donated over $60 billion to global health and education.
Once the richest person in the world for years, Gates fell out of the top five as he gave away wealth, including $5.3 billion in 2024. His influence extends beyond tech into philanthropy.
7. Larry Page
● Net Worth: $161.4 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Google (Alphabet)
● Country: United States
Born in 1973 in Michigan to academic parents, Page studied computer engineering at the University of Michigan and Stanford, where he met Sergey Brin. They launched Google in 1998.
Google’s search engine dominance and Alphabet’s expansion into AI, cloud computing, and self-driving cars (Waymo) fuel his wealth. He stepped down as Alphabet CEO in 2019 but remains a major shareholder.
A $26 billion drop in early 2025 hit his fortune as Alphabet faced regulatory pressure to sell Chrome, yet Google’s core business keeps him near the top.
8. Sergey Brin
Net Worth: $154 billion USD
Source of Wealth: Google (Alphabet)
Country: United States
Born in 1973 in Moscow, Brin immigrated to the U.S. at age six. He earned a math degree from the University of Maryland and joined Page at Stanford, co-founding Google.
Like Page, Brin’s wealth ties to Alphabet’s success. He’s active in Google X, the moonshot division exploring projects like longevity research and flying taxis.
Brin’s fortune tracks Page’s closely, with similar losses in 2025 due to Alphabet’s stock dip. He’s less public but equally impactful in tech innovation.
9. Warren Buffett
● Net Worth: $146.2 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
● Country: United States
Born in 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett showed an early knack for business, filing his first tax return at 13. He studied at Wharton, Nebraska, and Columbia, mentored by value investing guru Benjamin Graham.
Berkshire Hathaway, a holding company with stakes in Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express, drives his wealth. His “buy and hold” strategy is legendary.
Buffett’s fortune grew by $15 billion in early 2025, bucking market trends. He’s pledged 99% of his wealth to charity, primarily via the Gates Foundation.
10. Steve Ballmer
● Net Worth: $126 billion USD
● Source of Wealth: Microsoft, LA Clippers
● Country: United States
Born in 1956 in Detroit, Ballmer met Bill Gates at Harvard. He joined Microsoft as its 30th employee in 1980, becoming CEO from 2000 to 2014.
His 4% Microsoft stake, retained post-retirement, ballooned with the company’s AI-driven growth. Buying the LA Clippers for $2 billion in 2014 (now worth $5.5 billion) added to his wealth.
Ballmer’s an outlier among founders, thriving as a salaried executive turned investor. His exuberant leadership style contrasts with his quiet billionaire life.
These titans dominate tech (eight of ten) and the U.S. (nine of ten), with Musk as the richest person in the world setting the pace. Their fortunes shift with markets—From Musk’s interplanetary dreams to Buffett’s grounded investments, they redefine wealth in 2025.
