In 2025, the billionaire class has not only grown—it has redefined power. Forbes’ 39th annual World’s Billionaires List reveals a historic milestone: for the first time ever, the number of billionaires worldwide has surpassed 3,000. Together, they now control $16.1 trillion in combined wealth, a sum larger than the GDP of every country on Earth except for the United States and China. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about how wealth is shaping politics, industries, and influence on a global scale.
A Government of Billionaires
Nowhere is this influence more visible than in the United States, where Donald Trump returned to the presidency in January 2025. His administration is being called the most billionaire-packed leadership in American history. At least ten billionaires or billionaire spouses are part of his team. His closest advisor is none other than the richest man on the planet, Elon Musk. Tech tycoons and luxury moguls alike—figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and France’s Bernard Arnault—have publicly aligned themselves with Trump’s vision. Their support signals not just political endorsement, but a deeper alliance between economic power and political authority in the modern world.
The Billionaire Boom
The 2025 list includes 3,028 individuals with fortunes of at least $1 billion, marking an increase of 247 compared to last year. It is the first time the global billionaire count has crossed the 3,000 mark. Their total wealth jumped by $2 trillion, reaching a record-breaking $16.1 trillion. That surge reflects a booming stock market, rapid advances in AI and space tech, and aggressive investment in alternative industries, from crypto to media. The average billionaire is now worth $5.3 billion—up $200 million from the year before—showing just how quickly fortunes are growing at the top.
Elon Musk Takes Back the Throne
At the center of this wealth explosion is Elon Musk, who reclaimed the title of world’s richest person after a phenomenal year. His net worth now stands at an estimated $342 billion, up by $147 billion in just twelve months. This leap was fueled by SpaceX’s rapid valuation growth and the rising value of his AI company xAI, which recently merged with his social media platform X. Even as Tesla faces political backlash, labor protests, and stock market pressure, its share price is still higher than it was a year ago. Musk now has a $126 billion lead over the second richest person, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who climbs into the No. 2 spot for the first time with $216 billion. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos follows closely behind with $215 billion, while Oracle’s Larry Ellison takes the fourth position with $192 billion. Bernard Arnault, whose LVMH shares have suffered a decline, now ranks fifth with $178 billion—his lowest ranking since 2017.
The Geography of Wealth
The United States continues to dominate the billionaire landscape, with a record 902 American citizens on the list. China, including Hong Kong, remains in second place with 516 billionaires, while India holds third with 205. Over half of the people on the list come from these three countries. But wealth is expanding globally. Albania has produced its first billionaire this year, and Saudi Arabia has returned to the list after a seven-year absence, contributing 15 individuals. Forbes had previously excluded Saudi billionaires in 2018 following a government crackdown but has now brought them back into the spotlight.
New Billionaires and Rising Stars
A total of 288 individuals made their debut on this year’s ranking. These newcomers include some surprising names: rock legend Bruce Springsteen, Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, and comedian Jerry Seinfeld have all crossed the billion-dollar mark, each with fortunes over $1 billion. Also joining the ranks is crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, with a net worth of $8.5 billion, as well as founders of artificial intelligence firms such as Anthropic, CoreWeave, and DeepSeek. Food and beverage founders also had a strong showing, with the creators of Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s, Zaxby’s, and Cava making the list for the first time.
Among all the new faces, the wealthiest is Marilyn Simons, the widow of hedge fund pioneer Jim Simons, who passed away in May 2024. Her fortune now stands at $31 billion. Jim Simons was one of 32 billionaires who died in the past year. Another billionaire, Israeli industrialist Stef Wertheimer, passed away shortly after Forbes finalized the list and is still included in this year’s rankings.
Women in the Billionaire World
While the total number of billionaires has grown, women still remain a minority. This year, 406 women made the list—just 13.4% of the total, a slight increase from 13.3% last year. The vast majority of them inherited their fortunes. That includes Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, who now leads as the richest woman in the world with a net worth of $101 billion. She overtook Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the French heiress to the L’Oreal empire.
Only 113 women on the list are considered self-made. Among them, the most prominent is Swiss shipping mogul Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, worth $37.7 billion. This year, her company partnered with investment giant BlackRock to acquire 43 ports around the globe—including key operations in Panama.
The Youngest, Oldest, and Most Ambitious
The list continues to reflect the full age spectrum of extreme wealth. The youngest billionaire in the world is Johannes von Baumbach, a 19-year-old German pharmaceutical heir who now controls a $5.4 billion fortune. The youngest self-made billionaire is Alexandr Wang, cofounder and CEO of artificial intelligence firm Scale AI. At 28, he is worth $2 billion.
On the other end of the spectrum is 103-year-old George Joseph, a U.S. insurance tycoon, who remains active in business and holds a fortune of $1.9 billion. He is one of four billionaires over the age of 100. The average age across the list is 66 years.
Trump’s Financial Comeback
Donald Trump’s personal finances have seen an unexpected boom. Even before moving back into the White House, he significantly boosted his wealth. A timely investment into cryptocurrency and the public listing of Trump Media & Technology Group have more than doubled his net worth—from $2.3 billion last year to $5.1 billion in 2025. This financial upswing has positioned him as one of the year’s most successful billionaires, both in business and in politics.
Not Everyone Made It
As some rose, others fell. A total of 107 individuals who were on the list in 2024 failed to make the cut this year. Some saw their companies lose value. Others faced personal financial collapses. Notable names who dropped off include Lisa Su, CEO of AMD; Sara Liu, cofounder of Supermicro; and Nicholas Puech, heir to the Hermès fortune, who claims his wealth has evaporated.
How Forbes Builds the List
The World’s Billionaires list is built using net worth estimates as of March 7, 2025. Forbes gathers data from stock holdings, company valuations, real estate portfolios, art, yachts, planes, and more. The team also accounts for debt and charitable donations. Whenever possible, Forbes interviews the billionaires themselves or speaks with their staff, financial advisors, and legal teams. In some cases, family wealth is counted under the name of the founder or heir, as indicated by the phrase “& family” in listings. Although the rankings are locked in once per year, fortunes continue to rise and fall daily. For those updates, Forbes directs readers to its Real-Time Billionaires tracker.
Prepared by Navruzakhon Burieva
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