Elon Musk has reclaimed the title of the world’s richest person, starting 2025 with a net worth of $421.2 billion, according to Forbes. This marks a significant increase of $91 billion since December 1, primarily driven by a dramatic rise in the value of SpaceX.
The rocket company, in a deal that valued it at $350 billion, overtook ByteDance, Stripe, and OpenAI as the world’s most valuable private company. Musk also holds major stakes in Tesla, social media platform X, AI firm xAI, and tunnel company Boring Co.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, secures the second spot with a net worth of $233.5 billion, an increase of $10 billion following a 5% rise in Amazon’s stock. Despite his growth, Bezos remains $188 billion behind Musk.
Read also: 10 richest men in the world at the start of 2024
In a notable shift, Jensen Huang, CEO and co-founder of Nvidia, enters the top 10 wealthiest individuals, ranking at No. 10 with a fortune of $118 billion. His wealth surge is due to a 171% rise in Nvidia’s stock, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world.
The combined wealth of the top 10 billionaires is now $1.9 trillion, a $100 billion increase from December. However, the biggest loss in this group was Oracle’s Larry Ellison, whose fortune dropped by $17.2 billion, leaving him in third place with nearly $210 billion.
Overall, seven of the top 10 billionaires saw their wealth grow over the past month, marking a positive shift in the global billionaire rankings as of January 2025.
Read also: Top 10 richest men in the world worth $1.49 tn combined in Q1 2024
According to Forbes, here are the 10 richest people as of January 1
1. Elon Musk
Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person in 2025, with a net worth of $421.2 billion. Musk is the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, and the chairman of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. His wealth has been significantly bolstered by the increase in SpaceX’s valuation, which surged by $91 billion last month. Musk also owns 13% of Tesla stock, although he has pledged a portion of it as collateral for loans. A potential $50 billion performance-based stock option from Tesla has caused some legal complications but will contribute to his wealth once resolved.
Musk’s career has been marked by innovation, from founding SpaceX and Tesla to pushing boundaries in artificial intelligence with xAI. His influence spans industries, from electric cars and space exploration to social media and AI technology.
2. Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, holds the second spot with a fortune of $233.5 billion. Bezos revolutionised the retail industry by turning Amazon from a small online bookstore into the world’s largest e-commerce platform. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2021, he remains the chairman of Amazon. Bezos also made headlines in 2021 when he travelled to space with his private rocket company, Blue Origin. His wealth is heavily tied to Amazon, though he has sold and donated substantial portions of his shares over the years.
Bezos continues to invest through Bezos Expeditions, with stakes in several companies, including Airbnb and Workday. His influence remains strong in both business and technological spheres.
Read also: Top 10 richest men in the world increase wealth by $201.8 bn in Q2 2024
3. Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, ranks third with a net worth of $209.7 billion. Oracle, a software giant, was founded by Ellison in 1977, and he ran the company as CEO until 2014. Ellison’s wealth has been impacted by a decline in Oracle shares, but he remains a major figure in the tech industry. His investments extend beyond Oracle, including a 98% stake in the Hawaiian island of Lanai, which he bought for $300 million in 2012.
Ellison has also been involved in Tesla, serving on its board from 2018 to 2022, further connecting him to the world of technology and innovation.
4. Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook (now Meta), occupies the fourth position with a net worth of $202.5 billion. Zuckerberg built Meta into the world’s largest social media network, acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp along the way. Meta’s share price has seen modest gains recently, adding $3.8 billion to Zuckerberg’s wealth. As the CEO of Meta, Zuckerberg continues to shape the digital landscape, particularly through his investments in virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
Read also: Meet the richest people from 14 states in Nigeria
5. Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), ranks fifth with a net worth of $168.8 billion. LVMH is the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate, with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Moet & Chandon under its umbrella. Arnault’s wealth grew significantly in the last month due to a rise in LVMH stock. He has continued to expand his empire and involve his children in the business, ensuring that the LVMH legacy endures.
Arnault’s rise to the top of the wealth rankings in 2023 and 2024 was largely driven by the success of LVMH’s luxury products, particularly in the Asian market.
6. Larry Page
Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, is in sixth place with a net worth of $156 billion. Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998, and together, they transformed the internet with their search engine. Although Page no longer serves as CEO, he remains a key figure in Google’s parent company, Alphabet. A rise in Alphabet’s share price has bolstered his fortune. Page’s investments have also extended to areas such as asteroid mining, through his involvement in Planetary Resources.
Page’s impact on the tech world continues to be felt, and his continued involvement in Google’s innovations keeps him at the forefront of digital transformation.
Read also: Meet 24 Nigerian billionaires in oil and gas industry
7. Sergey Brin
Sergey Brin, Larry Page’s co-founder at Google, ranks seventh with a fortune of $149 billion. Like Page, Brin’s wealth has increased due to the success of Alphabet. Brin, who is also involved in AI developments, was a key contributor to Google’s Gemini AI chatbot. His wealth, like Page’s, is largely tied to Google’s success, as both remain controlling shareholders of Alphabet.
Brin has continued to innovate in the tech space, ensuring his place among the wealthiest individuals.
8. Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is ranked eighth with a net worth of $141.7 billion. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Buffett is one of the most successful investors in history. His wealth saw a decline of $8.9 billion in December, largely due to a drop in Berkshire Hathaway’s A shares. Despite this, Buffett remains an iconic figure in investment and philanthropy, having pledged to donate 99% of his fortune to charity.
Buffett’s influence on the financial world is immense, and his strategy of long-term value investing continues to shape markets globally.
Read also: Nigerian billionaires’ wealth declines in q2 2024 amid economic challenges
9. Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer, the former CEO of Microsoft and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, ranks ninth with a net worth of $124.3 billion. Ballmer joined Microsoft early on and led the company from 2000 to 2014. Following his retirement, he bought the Clippers for $2 billion, and the team is now valued at $5.5 billion. Despite a slight drop in his wealth in December, Ballmer remains a key player in both technology and sports.
His role in Microsoft’s success, along with his sports investments, ensures that he remains a significant figure on the global wealth stage.
10. Jensen Huang
Jensen Huang, the co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, rounds out the top 10 with a net worth of $117.2 billion. Nvidia has seen its stock price soar due to the increasing demand for its chips, especially in the growing AI sector. Despite a slight dip in Nvidia shares recently, Huang’s wealth continues to climb. He has been a central figure in Nvidia’s rise, with the company now a leading player in the tech industry, particularly in AI hardware.
Huang’s foresight in the tech sector has positioned him as a prominent figure among the world’s wealthiest.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
