Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk's fortune has shrunk by $40 billion this year, he is still a member of the billionaire club. IMAGE CREDIT: AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES
The club of the world's super-rich, with a personal fortune of more than $100 billion, now has 15 members, an all-time high, as trends such as artificial intelligence, luxury goods, and geopolitical turmoil have allowed their wealth to grow.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the billionaires' net worth totaled $2.2 trillion, up 13 percent, outperforming inflation and the stock market. Together, they hold nearly a quarter of the wealth of the world's 500 richest people.
Although these 15 super-rich people have a net worth of more than $100 billion, it is the first time that they have such a scale of wealth at the same time. The fortunes of L'Oreal SA's heiress Françoise Betancourt Meyers, founder Michael Dell, and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim have all exceeded $100 billion in the past five months, with some fluctuating around $100 billion several times.
In December 2023, the share price of L'Oréal, a premium cosmetics company, experienced its best year since 1998, making Betancourt Meyers the first woman to reach a 12-figure personal fortune. With a net worth of $101 billion, the 70-year-old Betancourt Meyers ranks 14th on the wealth index.
The growing demand for AI-related equipment has led to record highs in Dell Technologies' stock price, and recently, the 59-year-old's personal fortune has exceeded 100 billion dollars. With a fortune of $113 billion, he ranks 11th on Bloomberg's wealth index.
Other new billionaires on the list include Slim, 84, who is in 13th place with $106 billion. In 2023, as the Mexican peso appreciated, the share price of the company owned by the business empire of the richest man in Latin America rose, increasing his net worth by about $28 billion. Slim's companies are involved in construction, hotels, shops, and many other sectors.
There are also some wealthy people who are back on the list. In 2023, a raid by a short seller cost 61-year-old Gautam Adani, who recently returned to the $100 billion super-rich club. Shares of his flagship company, Adani Enterprises Ltd., rose as global investors increasingly focused on Indian businesses.
At the top of the list is 75-year-old Bernard Arnault, founder and CEO of LVMH, with a net worth of $222 billion. Most of his wealth comes from his stakes in the world's largest luxury goods manufacturer.
Jeff Bezos, 60, founder of Amazon (Amazon.com Inc), is in second place with a net worth of $208 billion, thanks to his ownership of the world's largest online retailer. Elon Musk, 52, the CEO of Tesla Inc., came in third with $187 billion.
Musk's fortune, which comes largely from his stakes in the world's most valuable automaker, has lost more than $40 billion this year. (Fortune Chinese Network)
作者：Diana Li, Jack Witzig, 彭博社
Translator: Liu Jinlong
Reviewer: Wang Hao
Fortune magazine launched the "Fortune China Technology 50" list for the first time this year, trying to find these technology companies that were born in China and are influencing the world. Their success lies not only in their technology and products, but also in the spirit of innovation and global vision they represent. We look forward to these Chinese companies making more outstanding achievements in technological innovation and global expansion, and making greater contributions to technological and commercial progress.
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