The Hurun Global Rich List 2025 has revealed some striking changes in the rankings of the wealthiest individuals in the world. Tesla founder Elon Musk is the richest man in the world with a net worth of $420 billion, closely followed by Jeff Bezos at $266 billion. The 2025 list shows that technology is driving modern wealth, and the US has strengthened its position as the leading force in the global billionaire rankings.
Top 10 richest people in the world
Here’s a quick overview of the top 10 billionaires in 2025, along with their companies, wealth, and nationalities:
| Name | Net Worth (US$bn) | YoY Net Worth Change | Company | Age | Country |
| Elon Musk | 420 | 82% | Tesla | 53 | USA |
| Jeff Bezos | 266 | 44% | Amazon | 61 | USA |
| Mark Zuckerberg | 242 | 53% | Meta | 40 | USA |
| Larry Ellison | 203 | 41% | Oracle | 80 | USA |
| Warren Buffett | 167 | 16% | Berkshire Hathaway | 94 | USA |
| Larry Page | 164 | 33% | Alphabet (Google) | 51 | USA |
| Bernard Arnault | 157 | -10% | LMVH | 75 | France |
| Steve Ballmer | 156 | 10% | Microsoft | 68 | USA |
| Sergey Brin | 148 | 30% | Alphabet (Google) | 51 | USA |
| Bill Gates | 143 | 4% | Microsoft | 69 | USA |
Source: Hurun Global Rich List 2025 | Data as of 15 January 2025
Elon Musk's net worth surged by an impressive 82% year-on-year till January 15, due to extraordinary performance of Tesla during this period. The stock moved higher, driven by demand for EVs. Tesla’s advancements in AI-powered autonomous driving technology and energy solutions like solar panels and battery storage also contributed to its revenue streams.
The rise of tech entrepreneurs is evident in the presence of Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Google parent Alphabet's founders Larry Page, and Sergey Brin, who are now major contenders in the billionaire race. While their wealth has grown exponentially in recent years, it’s clear that technological innovations have propelled these individuals to the top over the decade.
The surge in AI has significantly boosted the fortunes of several individuals. Jensen Huang, despite owning just 3% of Nvidia's stock, saw his wealth surpass the $100 billion mark, thanks to Nvidia's leadership in AI-capable GPUs, a key infrastructure for advancing AI technologies.
Two newcomers to the AI billionaire club are Liang Wenfeng, 40, from China’s DeepSeek in Hangzhou, with $4.5 billion, and Sam Altman of ChatGPT-parent OpenAI, with $1.8 billion. Altman’s wealth growth comes after OpenAI restructured its shareholdings, moving away from its original non-profit model.
What has changed in the Rich List over a decade?
When we look back at the 2015 Hurun Global Rich List, the top 10 was drastically different. In fact, many of the wealthiest individuals from a decade ago are no longer in the same position. For instance, Bill Gates, who was the wealthiest person in 2015 with a net worth of $85 billion, now holds the 10th spot with $143 billion in 2025, despite a 68% increase in his net worth. Elon Musk, who was not even in the top 10 in 2015, is now the world’s richest man.
Here's a comparison between the top billionaires in 2015 and 2025:
| Name | Company | 2015 Wealth (US$bn) | 2025 Wealth (US$bn) | % Change | Rank 2015→2025 |
| Bill Gates | Microsoft | 85 | 143 | 68% | 1→10 |
| Carlos Slim Helu & Family | America Movil | 83 | 81 | -2.4% | 2→20 |
| Warren Buffett | Berkshire Hathaway | 76 | 167 | 120% | 3→5 |
| Amancio Ortega | Inditex | 55 | 120 | 118% | 4→13 |
| Larry Ellison | Oracle | 54 | 203 | 276% | 5→4 |
| Bernard Arnault | Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LMVH) | 45 | 157 | 249% | 6→7 |
| Mark Zuckerberg | Meta | 44 | 242 | 450% | 7→3 |
| Charles Koch | Koch Industries | 36 | 54 | 50% | 8→26 |
Source: Hurun Global Rich List 2025 | Data as of 15 January 2025
The Hurun List highlighted a trend of tech billionaires rapidly increasing their wealth, especially during the last decade.
In 2015, the wealth of the top 10 billionaires was much more diversified, with many coming from traditional industries like telecom, retail, and energy. Fast forward to 2025, and the majority of the wealth is concentrated in technology. Companies like Tesla, Amazon, Meta, and Oracle are leading the charge. In 2015, tech made up just 37.4% of the wealth of the top 10 billionaires, but by 2025, that number has surged to 84.8%.
The US dominance: One of the most striking trends is the increasing dominance of the United States in the billionaire ranks. In 2015, the US had around 60% of the world’s top 10 billionaires. In 2025, that number has grown to a staggering 90%. This is largely because of tech magnates like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
The age dynamics: A notable shift in the 2025 list from 10 years ago is the average age of the top billionaires. In 2015, the average age was 75.9 years, whereas in 2025, it has dropped to 69.6 years as younger tech billionaires emerged at an accelerated pace. Mark Zuckerberg (40), Elon Musk (53), and Jeff Bezos (61) have seen their wealth skyrocket in just a few years, positioning them among the wealthiest individuals in the world. This trend is indicative of how quickly fortunes are being made in the tech industry.
The decline of traditional industries: Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, whose wealth primarily comes from telecom has seen a decline over the last 10 years. Slim, who was the second-richest person in 2015, has dropped to 20th rank due to a decline in the value of his company, America Movil, causing his wealth to dwindle to $81 billion in 2025.
Another traditional billionaire, Charles Koch, whose wealth is linked to oil and chemicals, has slipped from the 8th spot in 2015 to the 26th position in 2025.
The data in the Hurun Global Rich List highlighted the increasing importance of the tech sector in driving wealth creation, while older industries like telecom and oil have seen stagnant growth, tech continues to surge ahead.
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