Top 10 Richest People In The World
Being successful in business can be very difficult. Many startup companies will fail, completely, and of those that do succeed, the degree of success will be limited in comparison to a few of the companies that become world-beaters. Those companies that do become global successes can see incredible returns for their founders, making them wealthy beyond most people’s wildest dreams.
The most successful companies, however, will often see revenues totaling in the trillions of dollars every year. For those in charge, this will often mean profits in the billions. Here are some of the people who have created the most successful businesses on the planet, and are now among the richest people in the world.
1. Larry Page, $50.8bn
Google is one of the best well-known companies on the planet. If you have spent any time online, there is a very good chance that you have used Google yourself at least once. The search engine giant makes vast amounts of money by charging for advertising on its platform. Google was co-founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page in 1998. Page has stepped aside from the position of CEO of Google, but is still CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. Larry comes in at 10th of the list of the world’s richest people, with a net worth of approximately $50.8bn.
2. Michael Bloomberg, $55.5bn
Bloomberg is a mass media company that is perhaps best known for its TV programming. It focuses mostly, but not entirely, on news, information, and applications that serve the financial sector. The company has offices in 167 locations worldwide and employs approximately 20,000 staff.
The company was named after its founder, Michael Bloomberg, who started the company in 1981. His business has grown into a global giant, and he is now worth approximately $55.5bn. He has also served as the mayor of New York City. Michael Bloomberg has pledged to donate at least half of his wealth to good causes.
3. Larry Ellison, $58bn
Oracle is a large computer software company that is based in California. It focuses on enterprise and database software and, in 2018, it was the third-largest software company on the planet by revenue. While their products may not be household names, they are still popular among businesses globally.
Oracle was started way back in 1977 by Larry Ellison, Ed Oates, and Bob Miner. Larry Ellison was the CEO of the company, a position that he held until 2014 when he stepped aside. He now holds the position of chief technology officer and chairman of the board. His current worth is approximately $58bn.
4. Mark Zuckerberg, $62.3bn
Facebook is another name that needs no introduction. The platform is popular in most countries in the world and generates revenue by charging for ads. The company has been rocked by scandals lately, but still it remains popular and continues to generate vast revenues. Facebook was co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg.
Initially, the platform was used on college campuses, but it soon started to become popular further afield. At under 40 years old, Zuckerberg is also a relatively young member of the world’s richest club. His current net worth is approximately $62.3bn, making him the 7th richest person on the planet.
5. Amancio Ortega, $62.7bn
You may not have heard of the name Inditex, but it is a very large multinational clothing company. The company’s headquarters are based in Galicia, Spain, and has more than 7,200 stores worldwide. The company owns the Zara brand, which you are more likely to have heard of.
The company was first formed by Amancio Ortega in 1975 when he opened the first Zara store in Spain. The company has since grown into one of the largest fashion companies on the planet and owns a host of other brands in addition to Zara. Amancio Ortega currently has an estimated net worth of around $62.7bn.
6. Carlos Slim Helu, $64bn
America Movil is a very large mobile telecommunications company. It is a Mexican company and is headquartered in Mexico City and has subsidiaries throughout the American continent. Its technology is used throughout much of the world and it is currently the 7th largest mobile telecommunications company on the planet.
Amerca Movil was founded in Mexico in 2000 by Carlos Slim Helu. Carlos also owns stakes in other businesses, including a 17% shareholding of the New York Times. His net worth is currently estimated to be approximately $64bn, putting him at number 5 in the list of the world’s richest people.
7. Warren Buffet, $82.5bn
Berkshire Hathaway is a multinational conglomerate based in Nebraska, United States. The company is the whole owner of some household brand names such as Dairy Queen and Duracell, while it also part-owns other famous companies including Apple and Coca Cola. The company was first formed in 1839 by Oliver Chace.
In 1962, Warren Buffet started buying stocks in Berkshire Hathaway, eventually taking a holding share. Over the years, Buffet started to diversify the company’s holdings, growing it into the conglomerate that exists today. With Buffet’s apparent Midas touch when it comes to making investments, he is now worth an approximate $82.5bn. He has pledged to give the vast majority of his wealth to good causes.
8. Bill Gates, $103.7bn
Microsoft is the largest computer software company on the planet and one of the world’s most valuable companies overall. Its flagship software, Microsoft Windows, is used in computers around the world in companies and for personal use.
The company also produces hardware, such as the Xbox, and has also acquired other software companies, including Skype. Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates, along with Paul Allen. Gates has since sold most of his shareholdings in the company, currently owning 1%. He is now estimated to be worth approximately $103.7bn and has turned his attention to philanthropic endeavors. He has pledged to give at least half of his wealth to good causes.
9. Bernard Arnault, $108bn
The Luis Vuitton luxury fashion brand is one of the most recognized of all fashion brands on the planet. The original company was formed in 1854 and has since merged with other brands including Moet Hennessy. In its current form, the company is called LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE.
The CEO and chairman of this company is Bernard Jean Etienne Arnault. Arnault also owns other famous brands including Christian Dior, and is currently the richest person in all of Europe. He is currently thought to be worth approximately $108bn USD, putting him in 2nd place in the world’s richest person’s list.
10. Jeff Bezos, $131bn
Amazon is the planet’s largest e-commerce platform, and the world’s largest company by revenue. The platform is used worldwide for shopping online and sells a huge variety of products. The company also has a brick and mortar presence and provides other services such as streaming and publishing services. Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos.
The company started from humble beginnings, originally selling books from Jeff’s garage. The company has grown incredibly since, and Jeff still has a 16% shareholding in the company. He also owns the Washington Post newspaper and is a keen investor in space technology. Jeff is now the world’s richest person, with an estimated value of approximately $131bn.
