Who are the global financial powers in 2024? The new billionaire trends you need to know

The changes in the global market and technology have significantly reshaped the map of wealth. It is no longer just about cash in accounts, but about assets tied to industries that revolutionize the world. This article introduces you to 10 influential business leaders shaping the global economy and analyzes how they build their wealth.

From Silicon Valley to Milan Fashion: A New Map of Wealth

The assets of today’s billionaires are no longer limited to oil reserves or natural resources as in the past century, but come from technological innovation, business management, and strategic acquisitions. These leaders have built empires that influence the daily lives of both urban and rural populations.

Top Tier: Elon Musk and His Boldness

At the top of the list is Elon Musk, with a net worth of $342 billion. This figure reflects market confidence in his daring vision. He has not stopped at transitioning cars to electric; he has also ventured into space exploration and artificial intelligence.

At age 12, Musk sold his first computer game called Blastar. His ability to spot business opportunities from a young age has become a hallmark of his career. In his 20s, he co-founded Zip2 in 1995 before moving on to X.com (which later became PayPal).

Currently, Tesla, his electric vehicle company, holds assets worth approximately $51 billion. SpaceX, his space exploration company, has a personal valuation of over $82 billion. Additionally, he owns xAI, The Boring Company, and Neuralink, which generate continuous income.

Positions 2-3: The Digital World Creates Many Billionaires

Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Meta Platforms, has a net worth of $215 billion. He built this wealth in just a few years—from launching Facebook in a Harvard dorm to becoming the world’s leading social media platform.

His holdings in Meta Platforms, about 13%, are valued at $164 billion. His cash holdings add another $5.1 billion. The acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp in the past demonstrate his foresight for the future.

Jeff Bezos, the pioneer of online retail Amazon, has assets totaling $192 billion. His Amazon shares constitute about 9-9.7%, valued at over $186-$190 billion. Beyond that, his space exploration company Blue Origin (valued at $15 billion), The Washington Post at $250 million, and cash of $19.9 billion.

The Software Industry as a Golden Alchemy

Larry Ellison, the wizard behind Oracle, has assets around $178 billion. At age 80, he remains a thought leader in technology. Oracle, which he co-founded in 1977, revolutionized database management. His 42% stake in Oracle is worth over $117 billion.

Furthermore, his acquisition of Cerner Corporation in 2021 for $28.3 billion shows his calm business vision. His previous board position at Tesla from 2018-2022 valued his holdings at approximately $10.4 billion.

Luxury Fashion: Bernard Arnault and the Three Ds

Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, has a net worth of $154 billion. A French national, his ownership of the world’s largest luxury fashion conglomerate gives him global influence.

His 48% stake in LVMH is valued at $170 billion. His background started in his family’s construction business. He invested $15 million from that business to acquire Christian Dior in 1984. Through strategic acquisitions, he built an empire including Givenchy, Fendi, Celine, and more. In 2021, LVMH acquired Tiffany & Co. for $15.8 billion, the largest luxury brand acquisition in history.

Investment Leaders: Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha,” owns Berkshire Hathaway with assets totaling $146 billion. He has demonstrated investment acumen since age 11, founding Buffett Partnership Ltd. in 1956 and taking control of Berkshire Hathaway the same year.

His strategy is simple but effective: “Rule number one: Never lose money. Rule number two: Never forget rule number one.” His 15% stake in Berkshire Hathaway is valued at $137 billion. His timing in investing across media, insurance, energy, and food & beverage has made Berkshire Hathaway a symbol of patient investing.

Silicon Valley’s Golden Gates: Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Larry Page has assets of $144 billion, and Sergey Brin has $138 billion. Both are co-founders of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), developing the revolutionary search engine that ranks results by relevance.

They started as Stanford PhD students and took Google public in 2004, raising $1.67 billion. Their portfolio expanded to include Gmail, Android, YouTube, and cloud services. Alphabet shares about 6% of each, with a combined valuation exceeding $259 billion.

Fashion Retail and Real Estate Tycoons

Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex (Zara’s parent company), has assets of $124 billion. A Spaniard, he launched his company in 1975 with his ex-wife Rosalia Mera (who passed away in 2013).

Inditex operates over 5,000 stores worldwide under 8 brands, including Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, and Pull & Bear. His 60% stake is valued at $72 billion. His real estate assets are spread across major cities like Madrid, London, New York, and Chicago.

His daughter Marta Ortega Pérez was appointed company president in 2022 after 15 years in the business.

Urban Music and Tech Entrepreneur

Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, has assets of $118 billion. He joined Microsoft in 1980 after leaving Stanford MBA and became CEO in 2000.

Under his leadership, Microsoft expanded its product metrics significantly, including the development of Xbox and the acquisition of Skype in 2014. His 4% stake in Microsoft is valued at $134 billion. He also owns the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, purchased for $2 billion (, with assets including the Staples Center and The Forum, and cash holdings of $4.43 billion.

Key Factors in Wealth Creation: A Deeper Analysis

The commonality among these billionaires is not just luck but decision-making processes. Three main principles:

First: Industry Selection - Technology, luxury fashion, finance, and space research industries generate wealth “above” traditional sectors because they can scale high and have high governance news.

Second: Building Platforms - Most wealth comes from holding shares in large “platforms” connecting millions worldwide—Amazon, Facebook, Google, or LVMH.

Third: Expanding Investments - After building their brands, they invest in other assets. The “give a fish” algorithm allows their assets to grow autonomously over time.

Summary Table

Lessons for Aspiring Wealth Seekers

The stories of these billionaires are not just symbols of success but also lessons:

Resilience - Musk tried PayPal before success; Mark started in a dorm; Bezos’ journey from garage to global empire.

Vision - They don’t just focus on “now” but look 5-10 years ahead. Musk says, “I want to go to Mars”; Buffett says, “I want to learn the business and invest there.”

Patience - Wealth doesn’t happen overnight. They spend decades building and maintaining assets.

You can start your first step toward success by investing in knowledge, studying markets, and persistent effort. In a world full of opportunities, thinking differently and working harder than others will bring success closer.