The 20 Richest Men in the World in 2025: Who Leads Global Wealth and Why

The top of the global wealth pyramid continues to be dominated by giants of technology and innovation. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reveals that the race for the largest fortunes remains fierce, with significant changes reflecting market trends and the emergence of new opportunities in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

American dominance remains unchanged

Among the ten richest billionaires on the planet, nine are Americans, consolidating the US leadership in the global wealth ranking. The only European exception is Bernard Arnault, who maintains his position thanks to his luxury empire. This concentration shows how dominance in technology, data, and innovation directly translates into wealth accumulation in the 21st century.

Elon Musk in charge: US$ 358 billion in diversification

Elon Musk remains the world’s richest billionaire, with a net worth exceeding US$ 350 billion. His fortune does not come from a single enterprise — Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and the X platform serve as multiple sources of wealth. Additionally, Musk maintains significant exposure to cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (current price: US$ 93.45K), Ethereum (US$ 3.22K), and Dogecoin (US$ 0.15), further diversifying his portfolio.

The second tier: Ellison, Zuckerberg, and Bezos

Larry Ellison (US$ 251 billion) and Mark Zuckerberg (US$ 251 billion) share nearly the same wealth. While Ellison built his empire through Oracle and cloud computing, Zuckerberg expanded his domain through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and investments in virtual reality via Meta.

Jeff Bezos (US$ 247 billion) remains among the top, despite stepping down as Amazon CEO. His legacy — revolutionary e-commerce, AWS as a leader in cloud computing, and projects like Blue Origin — continues to generate exponential wealth.

Sector leaders

Steve Ballmer (US$ 174 billion) transformed Microsoft during his tenure as CEO, leading strategic projects like Azure and numerous acquisitions that repositioned the company. Today, he also stands out in sports as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Larry Page (US$ 165 billion) and Sergey Brin (US$ 154 billion), co-founders of Google, remain active in autonomous vehicles, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, sectors promising exponential growth in the coming years.

Jensen Huang and the AI revolution

Jensen Huang (US$ 149 billion), creator of NVIDIA, is one of the names that has grown most in the ranking in recent years. The company’s GPUs dominate nearly all data centers, machine learning platforms, and high-performance computing, making him indispensable in the era of artificial intelligence.

Outside Silicon Valley

Bernard Arnault (US$ 156 billion), the only European in the top 10, controls the LVMH group and its luxury brands — Louis Vuitton, Dior, Moët Hennessy. His case demonstrates that extreme wealth can be built outside the tech sector through premium positioning and long-term brand building.

Warren Buffett (US$ 141 billion) closes the top 10 as the “Oracle of Omaha.” His value investing approach through Berkshire Hathaway continues to inspire investors worldwide, proving that discipline and patience surpass the pursuit of passing trends.

The 20 richest men in the world in 2025

Beyond the top ten, the ranking includes other relevant names who have built enormous fortunes in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, retail, and finance. The full list reveals the diversity of paths to extreme wealth.

Lessons from the biggest billionaires for investors

Analyzing how the wealthiest men accumulated their fortunes offers valuable insights:

Long-term vision — None of the top billionaires sought quick gains. All invested decades building their enterprises.

Focus on technology and innovation — Most of the largest fortunes come from companies that defined new industries or revolutionized existing ones.

Strategic diversification — Elon Musk with multiple companies, Warren Buffett with a varied portfolio, Bernard Arnault with different brands — all avoid excessive concentration.

Focus on exponential growth — Cloud computing, AI, e-commerce, and biotechnology are the sectors that generated the most wealth in recent years.

What to take as a reference

For investors seeking inspiration, the pattern is clear: build a diversified portfolio, maintain exposure to accelerating sectors, and follow global trends with discipline. The combination of strategic thinking, continuous innovation, and patience — common traits among the 20 richest men in the world — remains the most proven formula for creating lasting wealth.

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