The path to becoming one of the richest people on Earth requires a wealth exceeding £100 billion. The majority of these wealthy individuals have ties to globally recognized technology companies.
As of January 2026, Forbes reported that the list of the world’s wealthiest individuals is largely dominated by Americans. There are over 3,100 billionaires worldwide, with these individuals representing the elite of the elite and showcasing how they built their vast empires.
– Former Microsoft CEO
– Net worth: $147 billion (£107 billion) – decreased by $2 billion from the previous month
– Age: 69
– Background: The former Microsoft CEO, who joined the company as its 30th employee in 1980 after leaving Stanford’s MBA program, purchased the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team in 2014.
– Retired CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
– Net worth: £109 billion ($149 billion) – decreased by $3 billion from the previous month
– Age: 95
– Background: Buffett, known for his successful investment strategies, retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025. He bought his first shares at the age of 13.
– Nvidia founder and CEO
– Net worth: £118 billion ($162 billion) – increased by $8 billion from the previous month
– Age: 62
– Background: Huang, the co-founder of Nvidia, a graphics card company established in 1993, has been the CEO since its inception. Born in Taiwan, he moved to the US at a young age.
– LVMH CEO
– Net worth: £142 billion ($195 billion) – increased by $5 billion from the previous month
– Age: 76
– Background: Arnault oversees luxury conglomerate LVMH, the only non-American on the list, controlling brands like Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, and Sephora. His children hold key positions in the company.
– Meta co-founder
– Net worth: £165 billion ($226 billion) – increased by $4 billion from the previous month
– Age: 41
– Background: Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook in 2004 with fellow Harvard students before rebranding the company as Meta in 2021. He retains a 13% stake in the firm.
– Google co-founder
– Net worth: £173 billion ($237 billion) – decreased by $6 billion from the previous month
– Age: 52
– Background: Brin, born in Russia and immigrated to the US at a young age, co-founded Google in 1998 with Larry Page. He currently serves as a board member and controlling shareholder.
– Amazon CEO
– Net worth: £176 billion ($242 billion) – decreased by $2 billion from the previous month
– Age: 62
– Background: Bezos, who founded Amazon in 1994, now serves as the executive chairman. He also owns The Washington Post and Blue Origin aerospace company.
– Oracle co-founder
– Net worth: £178 billion ($245 billion) – decreased by $8 billion from the previous month
– Age: 81
– Background: Ellison co-founded Oracle, a major database management company, and currently serves as chairman and chief technology officer.
– Google co-founder and former CEO
– Net worth: £186 billion ($257 billion) – decreased by $5 billion from the previous month
– Age: 52
– Background: The co-founder of Google, Brin, developed the search engine algorithm with Larry Page. He now holds positions as a board member and controlling shareholder of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
– Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, X
– Net worth: £528 billion ($726 billion) – increased by $244 billion from the previous month
– Age: 54
– Background: Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, leads Tesla and SpaceX. He achieved a £500 billion valuation in October 2025, becoming the first person to do so. Musk holds citizenship in the USA, South Africa, and Canada.
