Forbes 2024 Billionaire Roster: New Records in Wealth and Numbers

Forbes has unveiled its highly anticipated annual compilation of global wealth, revealing that the number of billionaires worldwide has reached new heights in 2024. The billionaire population now includes 2,781 individuals – an increase of 141 from the previous year. The collective fortune of these billionaires surged to an impressive $14.2 trillion, marking a substantial $2 trillion climb from 2023.

Surpassing its own 2021 record, the list added 26 billionaires whose combined riches are up by a staggering $1.1 trillion. The billionaires are not just more in number but also wealthier, with two-thirds of the list seeing an uptick in their fortunes. Notably, the top 20 wealth magnates expanded their assets by $700 billion since last year.

The United States leads the global tally with an unprecedented count of 813 billionaires, the highest national concentration of extreme wealth. Following suit is China with 473 billionaires, while India's 200 billionaires represent a new record for the nation.

Stock prices and exchange rates, as of March 8, 2024, served as the basis for Forbes' assessment of individual wealth. Topping the list is Bernard Arnault of France, along with his family, holding a commanding net worth of $233 billion. Arnault, the force behind LVMH, continues to be a constant figure within the top three wealthiest individuals globally.

Elon Musk, the maverick entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, along with the controversial acquisition of Twitter – now X – ranks second with a fortune of $195 billion. Despite owning the majority of X, its valuation plummeted to considerably less than the original purchase price, affecting Musk's wealth. Additionally, fluctuations in Tesla's earnings have resulted in his net worth falling below $200 billion repeatedly over the past couple of years.

Jeff Bezos of Amazon fame occupies the third spot with an equal net worth to Musk, while Facebook's creator, Mark Zuckerberg, follows closely with $177 billion. Other celebrities with significant fortunes include Rupert Murdoch, Jerry Jones, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, and Taylor Swift – all securing positions on this extensive roster of affluence.

Commanding the 15th slot and the title of the wealthiest woman in the world, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers amasses a fortune of $99.5 billion. The lineage continues with Alice Walton, Julia Koch, Jacqueline Mars, and MacKenzie Scott, all inheriting or building vast empires that define their economic stature.

With this latest release, Forbes continues to provide a barometer for the financial echelons within society, reflecting the dynamic and burgeoning nature of wealth creation in the 21st century.