By As of May 1, 2024, Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH, the world’s leading luxury goods company, continues to hold the title of the world’s wealthiest individual, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaires list. Arnault has maintained this position since February 2024, with Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla, closely following in second place.
In a recent development, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, briefly overtook Musk in April 2024, securing the second spot. However, Musk quickly reclaimed his position after Tesla’s stock surged by an impressive 15 percent on April 29, 2024, resulting in a $14.5 billion boost to his net worth, as reported by Forbes. Musk’s recent exploration of the electric vehicle market in China highlights his unwavering commitment to innovation.
Despite Arnault’s LVMH experiencing a setback in the past month, with a decline in its stock value leading to a $17 billion decrease in his fortune, his position as the world’s richest individual remains secure. Arnault’s current fortune stands at $209.4 billion, approximately $10 billion more than Musk’s.
Jeff Bezos now occupies third place with a net worth of $193.3 billion, while Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta recorded a net worth of $151.2 billion for the period.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who dominated the world’s richest person list for nearly three decades, now finds himself in the ninth position with a net worth of $128 billion, down from the seventh spot a month ago.
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers of France, with an estimated worth of $95.4 billion, holds the title of the richest woman in the world and ranks as the 15th wealthiest person overall. Her fortune is primarily derived from her ownership stake in cosmetics giant L’Oreal, which she inherited from her late mother. Francoise’s grandfather, Eugène Schueller, was the founder of L’Oreal.
The top 10 richest individuals in the world as of May 1, 2024, are:
1. Bernard Arnault (LVMH, France) – $209.4 billion
2. Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, X, U.S.) – $199.6 billion
3. Jeff Bezos (Amazon, U.S.) – $193.3 billion
4. Mark Zuckerberg (Meta, U.S.) – $151.2 billion
5. Larry Ellison (Oracle, U.S.) – $142.8 billion
6. Larry Page (Google, U.S.) – $135.4 billion
7. Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway, U.S.) – $131 billion
8. Sergey Brin (Google, U.S.) – $129.9 billion
9. Bill Gates (Microsoft, investments, U.S.) – $127 billion
10. Steve Ballmer (Microsoft, Clippers, investments, U.S.) – $117.1 billion
As the global economy continues to evolve, the rankings of the world’s wealthiest individuals remain fluid, with tech giants and luxury goods moguls dominating the list.
Africannews/Forbes
