The World’s Most Exclusive Club: Only 14 Members Worldwide

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The world is home to only 14 individuals who have reached a certain milestone in terms of wealth. Most of them have accumulated their fortunes through technology companies.

Several decades ago, even billionaires considered 100 billion USD to be beyond reach. In 1987, when Forbes published its first global wealth ranking, there were only two individuals who qualified for the list, both of whom were Japanese tycoons, each with a net worth exceeding 10 billion USD (equivalent to 27 billion USD in today’s currency, which would rank 69th on the 2024 Forbes list).

Today, with the rise of the global super wealthy, the membership criteria of this exclusive club have become more attainable. The 15th member, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, the heiress of L’Oréal (with a net worth of 99.5 billion USD), is knocking on the door, closely followed by technology mogul Michael Dell (with a net worth of 91 billion USD).

Now, here is the complete list of the world’s most exclusive club members (as of March 8, 2024, in terms of net worth):

14. Carlos Slim Helu

Net Worth: 102 billion USD | Source: Telecommunications | Nationality: Mexico

Carlos Slim Helu has been ranked as the world’s richest person from 2010 to 2013, with a net worth of 74 billion USD at his peak. Although he currently ranks 14th, his wealth has never been greater, thanks to the appreciation of the Mexican peso and a 60% increase in the stock price of his industrial conglomerate, Grupo Carso.

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13. Amancio Ortega

Net Worth: 103 billion USD | Source: Inditex | Nationality: Spain

Amancio Ortega’s wealth has increased by 26 billion USD since last year, pushing his net worth to a 12-digit figure, primarily due to a 43% surge in the stock price of his clothing retail company, Inditex. Additionally, the value of his real estate portfolio, including warehouses, residential properties, and office spaces for rent, has increased by 20 billion USD.

12. Michael Bloomberg

Net Worth: 106 billion USD | Source: Bloomberg LP | Nationality: United States

Michael Bloomberg began his career working at Salomon Brothers in 1966. In 1981, he was laid off after Salomon Brothers merged with Phibro Corporation, a commodity trading firm. With a $10 million severance package, he founded Innovative Market System (IMS), a company that specializes in providing software and terminal devices for accessing and analyzing financial information. In 1986, Innovative Market System was renamed Bloomberg LP. In 1990, the company launched the news service website Bloomberg.com. Today, Bloomberg LP is one of the largest global media and financial data companies. Last year, Michael Bloomberg publicly committed to donating 88% of his ownership stake to Bloomberg Philanthropies, a foundation that supports activities such as climate change mitigation and community health.

11. Sergey Brin

Net Worth: 110 billion USD | Source: Google | Nationality: United States

Sergey Brin is one of the successful entrepreneurs worth diving into. He co-founded Google, one of the world’s leading technology companies. Google has propelled Brin to great wealth. In 2023, his net worth reached 76 billion USD, making him the 14th richest person in the world, and Forbes now estimates his wealth at 110 billion USD.

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10. Larry Page

Net Worth: 114 billion USD | Source: Google | Nationality: United States

Larry Page is the co-founder of Google, along with Sergey Brin. In 2019, he stepped down as CEO of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, but remains a controlling shareholder and a member of its board of directors.

9. Mukesh Ambani

Net Worth: 116 billion USD | Source: Diverse | Nationality: India

Mukesh Ambani is the Chairman of Reliance Industries, a conglomerate with interests in oil, telecommunications, and retail in India. In recent years, the billionaire has consistently climbed up the global rich list.

8. Steve Ballmer

Net Worth: 121 billion USD | Source: Microsoft | Nationality: United States

Steve Ballmer is the former CEO of Microsoft, leading the company during the dot-com bubble period from 2000 to 2004. He joined Microsoft in 1980 and was its 30th employee.

7. Bill Gates

Net Worth: 128 billion USD | Source: Microsoft | Nationality: United States

Bill Gates’ wealth primarily comes from his Microsoft shares. He currently owns 128 billion USD, an increase of 24 billion USD from last year. After leaving Microsoft, Gates focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has also invested in dozens of other companies.

6. Warren Buffett

Net Worth: 133 billion USD | Source: Berkshire Hathaway | Nationality: United States

Warren Buffett, the legendary American investor, is the Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. In recent years, he has been preparing for his retirement and pledged to give away more than 99% of his wealth. To date, Buffett has donated over 40 billion USD to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other charitable organizations for children.

5. Larry Ellison

Net Worth: 141 billion USD | Source: Oracle | Nationality: United States

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Larry Ellison is the Chairman and Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Oracle. He owns about 35.4% of the software giant’s shares. Ellison’s wealth has increased by 34 billion USD since last year.

4. Mark Zuckerberg

Net Worth: 177 billion USD | Source: Facebook | Nationality: United States

Mark Zuckerberg’s wealth has more than doubled compared to last year, placing him among the top 10 richest individuals on the planet. Meta Platforms, his company, has also performed well in business operations. Its profits surged nearly 70% to 39 billion USD, and its stock price rose over 130% in the past year.

3. Jeff Bezos

Net Worth: 194 billion USD | Source: Amazon | Nationality: United States

Jeff Bezos co-founded Amazon in 1994 in a garage in Seattle, gradually transforming the company into an e-commerce behemoth. At the end of 2021, he stepped down as CEO of Amazon and became the Executive Chairman, similar to what Bill Gates did at Microsoft. Amazon’s stock has risen 76% in the past year.

2. Elon Musk

Net Worth: 195 billion USD | Source: Tesla, SpaceX | Nationality: United States

Elon Musk’s wealth has increased by 15 billion USD compared to last year, primarily due to a doubling of Tesla’s stock in 2023. However, this year, the stock has declined by more than 30% due to safety concerns, vehicle recalls, and slower growth, forcing price reductions.

1. Bernard Arnault

Net Worth: 233 billion USD | Source: LVMH | Nationality: France

Bernard Arnault has topped Forbes’ list of the world’s richest individuals for the second consecutive year. He is currently the CEO and Chairman of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate. LVMH owns 75 fashion and beauty brands, including Sephora, Tiffany & Co, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Dom Perignon, and Moët Hennessy.

(Source: Forbes)

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