The Top 10 Richest People on Earth in 2025
- Marcelo Serafim
- Jan 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 4
In the dynamic world of wealth accumulation, the top 10 richest people on Earth in 2025 showcase an intriguing blend of innovation, business acumen, and strategic investments. Leading this prestigious list is Elon Musk, with a net worth of approximately $433.9 billion. Musk's wealth primarily stems from his ventures in Tesla, where he has revolutionized the electric vehicle industry, and SpaceX, focusing on space travel and colonization. His recent endeavors include significant stock in X (formerly Twitter) and investments in AI with xAI, alongside his tunneling company, The Boring Company.
Following Musk is Jeff Bezos, whose fortune is pegged at $233.5 billion. Bezos founded Amazon, transforming it from an online bookstore into a global e-commerce giant. His wealth is also augmented through his space company, Blue Origin, which aims to enable human spaceflight. His philanthropy efforts include the Bezos Earth Fund, dedicated to fighting climate change.
In third place, Larry Ellison boasts a net worth of $209.7 billion. As the co-founder of Oracle, Ellison has been instrumental in pioneering enterprise software and cloud computing. His wealth also includes significant real estate investments, particularly in Hawaii, and he maintains a keen interest in yacht racing and philanthropy through his Ellison Medical Foundation.
Mark Zuckerberg secures the fourth spot with a net worth of $217.7 billion. He is best known for co-founding and leading Meta Platforms (formerly known as Facebook), which includes social media giants like Instagram and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg's focus has shifted towards building the metaverse, a virtual reality space where users can interact in a computer-generated environment.
Bernard Arnault, with a net worth of $202 billion, holds the fifth position. As the head of LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate, Arnault oversees brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Tiffany & Co. His wealth strategy involves acquiring and managing high-end fashion and jewelry brands, expanding LVMH's global footprint.
Bill Gates, once the richest man on earth, sits at number six with $120 billion. While much of his wealth comes from Microsoft, which he co-founded, Gates has transitioned into one of the world's most influential philanthropists through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which tackles global health, education, and poverty.
Warren Buffett at number seven, with a net worth of $117 billion, highlights the power of value investing. As the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett has turned this conglomerate into a behemoth in insurance, energy, and consumer goods sectors, known for his disciplined investment philosophy.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google's co-founders, rank at eighth and ninth with net worth of $116 billion and $115 billion, respectively. Their wealth primarily comes from Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, which has expanded into various technology sectors including AI, health, and autonomous vehicles.
Finishing the list at number ten is Jensen Huang with $118 billion, thanks to Nvidia's explosive growth in the AI and graphics processing market. Nvidia's chips are pivotal in gaming, AI development, and now, the acceleration of scientific computing, making Huang a central figure in tech innovation.
These billionaires not only control vast fortunes but also steer the direction of global economics, technology, and social issues through their businesses and philanthropy.
Questions:
Where did Elon Musk's wealth come from?
What is the focus of Jeff Bezos' philanthropy through the Bezos Earth Fund?
What is Mark Zuckerberg's current major project at Meta Platforms?
How does Bernard Arnault's wealth strategy differ from others on the list?
What is the main investment philosophy of Warren Buffett?
Vocabulary:
Augmented - increased or added to.
Example: His wealth was augmented by his successful ventures in space travel.
Conglomerate - a large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse firms.
Example: Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate with interests in various industries.
Philanthropy - the practice of promoting the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes.
Example: Bill Gates is known for his philanthropy through his foundation.
Metaverse - a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual space.
Example: Mark Zuckerberg is building the metaverse for social interaction.
Innovative - featuring new methods; advanced and original.
Example: Elon Musk is known for his innovative approach to business.
Pioneering - developing or being the first to use or apply a new method, area of knowledge, or activity.
Example: Larry Ellison was pioneering in the field of enterprise software.
Acumen - the ability to make good judgments and take quick decisions.
Example: Warren Buffett's business acumen has made him a legendary investor.
Strategic - relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.
Example: Their strategic investments in tech have paid off handsomely.
Amass - gather together or accumulate over a period of time.
Example: These billionaires have amassed their wealth over decades.
Philanthropist - a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.
Example: Bill Gates has transitioned from a tech mogul to a philanthropist.
Phrasal Verb:
Branch out - to expand or diversify into new areas.
Meaning: To start doing new and different things.
Examples:
Elon Musk decided to branch out into AI with his company xAI.
Amazon branched out from books to become a marketplace for all goods.
American Idiom:
Rags to Riches - Used to describe a person who ascends from poverty to wealth.
Meaning: Someone who has become very successful from humble beginnings.
Example: The story of Jeff Bezos is a true rags-to-riches tale, starting from selling books online to leading one of the world's largest companies.
English Grammar Tip:
Use of Passive Voice: Often used in business and finance to emphasize the action rather than who performed it.
Example: "His wealth was amassed through smart investments." Here, the focus is on how the wealth was amassed rather than who amassed it.
Another example: "Several companies have been acquired by LVMH under Bernard Arnault's leadership."
Listening
Homework Proposal:
Research one of the top 10 richest people listed above. Write a short essay (500 words) on how they built their wealth, their major business ventures, and their impact on society. Include citations from at least two reputable sources and discuss their current projects or future plans. Highlight any controversies or criticisms they might have faced regarding their business practices or personal decisions.
Comments