Who were the richest people in the world in 2023? The answer changed throughout the year as stock prices, company valuations and exchange rates affected billionaire fortunes.
According to Forbes’ 2023 World’s Billionaires list, the world’s 2,640 billionaires had a combined fortune of about $12.2 trillion. Bernard Arnault & family ranked No. 1, followed by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
It is important to note that billionaire net worths are estimates and can change significantly as the value of publicly traded companies rises or falls. The Forbes annual ranking used stock prices and exchange rates from March 10, 2023.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 10 richest people in the world in 2023, according to the Forbes annual ranking.
1
Bernard Arnault & Family
Net worth: $211 billion
French businessman Bernard Arnault became the world’s richest person on Forbes’ 2023 annual billionaires list. Arnault is chairman and CEO of LVMH, the luxury-goods group behind major brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Tiffany & Co.
Forbes estimated Arnault and his family’s fortune at $211 billion as of March 10, 2023. He became the first French citizen to top the annual Forbes World’s Billionaires ranking.
- Age in 2023: 74
- Country: France
- Industry: Fashion and retail
- Company: LVMH
- Net worth: $211 billion
Arnault’s position at the top was helped by a strong year for LVMH, with the company’s revenue, profits and share price reaching record levels, according to Forbes.
2
Elon Musk
Net worth: $180 billion
Elon Musk ranked second on Forbes’ 2023 World’s Billionaires list, with an estimated fortune of $180 billion.
Musk is best known for leading Tesla and SpaceX and for his involvement in several other technology ventures. He had been the world’s richest person on Forbes’ previous annual ranking but fell to No. 2 in 2023 after Tesla shares declined and he spent heavily on his acquisition of Twitter.
- Age in 2023: 51
- Country: United States
- Industry: Automotive and technology
- Major sources of wealth: Tesla and SpaceX
- Net worth: $180 billion
Despite falling from No. 1, Musk remained one of the world’s wealthiest people by a substantial margin. Forbes noted that Tesla’s declining share price following his Twitter acquisition played a major role in the change.
3
Jeff Bezos
Net worth: $114 billion
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, ranked third on the 2023 Forbes list with an estimated net worth of $114 billion.
Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 and built it into one of the world’s largest technology and e-commerce companies. Although he stepped down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021, he remained the company’s executive chairman and continued to hold a substantial stake in the business.
- Age in 2023: 59
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology and e-commerce
- Company: Amazon
- Net worth: $114 billion
Forbes reported that Bezos’ fortune had fallen substantially from the previous year because Amazon’s share price declined sharply.
4
Larry Ellison
Net worth: $107 billion
Larry Ellison is the co-founder and chairman of Oracle, one of the world’s largest enterprise software companies.
Ellison ranked fourth on Forbes’ 2023 annual billionaires list with an estimated net worth of $107 billion. He had previously served as Oracle’s chief executive officer before stepping down from the position in 2014.
- Age in 2023: 78
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology
- Company: Oracle
- Net worth: $107 billion
Ellison’s fortune is closely linked to his ownership of Oracle and other investments, including significant real-estate holdings.
5
Warren Buffett
Net worth: $106 billion
Warren Buffett ranked fifth among the world’s richest people in Forbes’ 2023 annual ranking, with an estimated fortune of $106 billion.
Buffett is chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in history. His investment strategy and long-term approach to businesses have made him one of the most influential figures in global finance.
- Age in 2023: 92
- Country: United States
- Industry: Finance and investments
- Company: Berkshire Hathaway
- Net worth: $106 billion
6
Bill Gates
Net worth: $104 billion
Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, ranked sixth on Forbes’ 2023 list with an estimated net worth of $104 billion.
Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen and played a major role in the development of the personal-computer software industry. Although he is no longer involved in Microsoft’s day-to-day management, his fortune remains connected to investments built from his technology wealth.
- Age in 2023: 67
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology
- Company: Microsoft
- Net worth: $104 billion
7
Michael Bloomberg
Net worth: $94.5 billion
Michael Bloomberg ranked seventh on Forbes’ 2023 annual list of the world’s richest people, with an estimated fortune of $94.5 billion.
Bloomberg is the co-founder of Bloomberg LP, the financial-information and media company established in 1981. His wealth is primarily connected to his ownership of the company.
- Age in 2023: 81
- Country: United States
- Industry: Media and finance
- Company: Bloomberg LP
- Net worth: $94.5 billion
8
Carlos Slim Helú & Family
Net worth: $93 billion
Carlos Slim Helú and his family ranked eighth on Forbes’ 2023 list, with an estimated combined fortune of $93 billion.
The Mexican business magnate built much of his fortune through telecommunications and other business interests. His companies have played a major role in Mexico’s telecommunications industry.
- Country: Mexico
- Industry: Telecommunications and diversified investments
- Major business: América Móvil and related holdings
- Net worth: $93 billion
9
Mukesh Ambani
Net worth: $83.4 billion
Mukesh Ambani ranked ninth on Forbes’ 2023 World’s Billionaires list with an estimated net worth of $83.4 billion.
Ambani is chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, one of India’s largest companies. The group’s interests span energy, petrochemicals, telecommunications, retail and other sectors.
- Country: India
- Industry: Diversified
- Company: Reliance Industries
- Net worth: $83.4 billion
10
Steve Ballmer
Net worth: $80.7 billion
Steve Ballmer rounded out Forbes’ top 10 richest people in the world in 2023 with an estimated fortune of $80.7 billion.
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 and eventually became the company’s chief executive officer, succeeding Bill Gates. After leaving Microsoft, he became the owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.
- Country: United States
- Industry: Technology and sports
- Former CEO: Microsoft
- Owner: Los Angeles Clippers
- Net worth: $80.7 billion
2023 World’s Richest People: Quick Facts
| Rank | Billionaire | Net Worth | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernard Arnault & family | $211 billion | France |
| 2 | Elon Musk | $180 billion | United States |
| 3 | Jeff Bezos | $114 billion | United States |
| 4 | Larry Ellison | $107 billion | United States |
| 5 | Warren Buffett | $106 billion | United States |
| 6 | Bill Gates | $104 billion | United States |
| 7 | Michael Bloomberg | $94.5 billion | United States |
| 8 | Carlos Slim Helú & family | $93 billion | Mexico |
| 9 | Mukesh Ambani | $83.4 billion | India |
| 10 | Steve Ballmer | $80.7 billion | United States |
What Happened to Gautam Adani?
Gautam Adani’s absence from the top 10 is particularly notable because he had been among the world’s richest people earlier in 2023.
Forbes reported that Adani was the world’s third-richest person on January 24, 2023, with a fortune of nearly $126 billion. His wealth subsequently fell sharply after a report from Hindenburg Research triggered a major sell-off in shares of Adani Group companies.
By the time Forbes published its annual 2023 ranking, Adani had fallen to No. 24 with an estimated fortune of $47.2 billion. This is why the ranking in this updated article differs substantially from some lists published earlier in 2023.
For readers interested in the historical change, Forbes’ 2023 richest-people report provides additional context about Adani’s fall in the ranking.
How Forbes Calculates Billionaire Wealth
It is worth remembering that billionaire net worth is not the same as money sitting in a bank account.
Forbes estimates the value of billionaires’ publicly traded holdings, private companies, real estate and other assets while taking liabilities and other relevant factors into consideration. Because stock prices can change every trading day, the estimated fortunes of billionaires can rise or fall quickly.
For its 2023 annual World’s Billionaires list, Forbes used stock prices and exchange rates from March 10, 2023. The figures in this article therefore represent the annual 2023 ranking rather than a current real-time ranking.
Final Thoughts
The 2023 Forbes billionaires ranking showed how quickly the fortunes and positions of the world’s wealthiest people can change.
Bernard Arnault & family took the No. 1 position, while Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and Warren Buffett completed the top five. The list also demonstrated the continued dominance of technology, luxury goods, finance, telecommunications and other large global industries in creating enormous fortunes.
Another major lesson from the 2023 ranking was the effect that public-company share prices can have on billionaire wealth. Gautam Adani’s dramatic fall during the year was a clear example of how quickly a billionaire’s position can change.
Who Was Your Favourite Billionaire on the 2023 List?
Which billionaire on the 2023 Forbes ranking interested you the most? Was it Bernard Arnault, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett or another name on the list?
Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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