Forbes has released its 2025 World’s Billionaires List, marking a historic milestone with 3,028 individuals now holding billionaire status—the highest number since the list’s inception in 1987. Collectively, these billionaires possess a staggering total net worth of $16.1 trillion.
Elon Musk leads the rankings with an estimated net worth of $342 billion, a 75% increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to the soaring valuations of his companies, including xAI and SpaceX, as well as a significant rally in Tesla’s stock. Notably, Musk becomes the first individual to surpass the $300 billion mark.
Beyond his business ventures, Musk has expanded his influence into the political arena. He currently serves as an adviser to President Donald Trump and leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force focused on reducing federal spending.
Mark Zuckerberg secures the second spot with a net worth of $216 billion, closely followed by Jeff Bezos at $215 billion. Larry Ellison and Bernard Arnault complete the top five, with net worths of $192 billion and $178 billion, respectively. Forbes highlights that 67% of the billionaires are self-made, underscoring the growing impact of entrepreneurship in wealth creation.
The United States leads with 902 billionaires, followed by China with 450, India with 205, and Germany with 171. This distribution reflects the shifting dynamics of global wealth and economic influence.
The 2025 list also features Johannes von Baumbach, a 19-year-old from Germany, as the world’s youngest billionaire. With an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion, von Baumbach inherits his fortune from the family-owned pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim.
The 2025 Forbes World’s Billionaires List not only highlights individual wealth but also offers insights into broader economic trends and the evolving landscape of global wealth distribution.
