The global ranking of billionaires has experienced some shifts, although the most prominent figures remain largely unchanged at the summit. As of September 1, the combined net worth of the world’s 10 richest individuals is approximately $2.8 trillion. Among them, nine are Americans, with Spain’s Amancio Ortega standing out as the only non-American. All ten individuals on this list are men, while Alice Walton is the wealthiest woman globally, occupying the 16th position with an estimated fortune of $116 billion.
In a significant development, Elon Musk expanded his already vast lead in August, with his wealth increasing by over $200 billion thanks to substantial gains in SpaceX and Tesla. Meanwhile, the lower half of the top 10 saw more volatility, as two former leaders, Bernard Arnault and Warren Buffett, dropped out of the rankings.
Elon Musk remains unrivaled at the top, with a fortune now estimated at $892 billion after a remarkable $202 billion increase in August. This rebound followed a steep $363 billion loss in July, driven by a 33% rise in SpaceX shares and an 18% increase in Tesla stock. Musk’s wealth is primarily derived from his ownership stakes—about 38% in SpaceX and nearly 11% in Tesla—with potential for further gains through restricted shares.
Musk has set multiple wealth records in recent years, becoming the first individual to surpass $500 billion in 2025 and exceeding $800 billion earlier this year. However, his current net worth remains below the record peak of $1.33 trillion reached at SpaceX’s height in June.
Google cofounder Larry Page holds the second spot with an estimated $277 billion, despite a $15 billion decrease in August. Page, who co-founded Google in 1998 with Sergey Brin while at Stanford, has served twice as CEO and remains a controlling shareholder and board member of Alphabet, Google’s parent company. He briefly crossed the $300 billion mark earlier this year, joining Musk and Larry Ellison as the only individuals to do so. His fortune has grown significantly over the past decade, having been valued at $144 billion in 2025 when he was ranked seventh.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is third with a net worth of $268 billion, down about $10 billion in August but still ahead of Sergey Brin. Bezos launched Amazon in 1994 as an online bookseller, later expanding into diverse sectors like cloud computing and entertainment. Although he stepped down as CEO in 2021, Bezos remains the company’s executive chairman and holds an estimated 8% stake. He has also invested heavily in Blue Origin and recently returned to an operational role at Prometheus, an AI startup focused on engineering and physical design.
Sergey Brin ranks fourth with $256 billion, experiencing a $13 billion loss in August but maintaining his position among the top four wealthiest. Alongside Page, Brin retains control of Alphabet shares and serves on its board. He has increased his involvement in Google’s AI initiatives after years away from daily operations and has committed substantial resources to philanthropy, recently donating about $1.1 billion in Alphabet shares to his nonprofit Catalyst4, which addresses neurological and climate issues.
Michael Dell rose to fifth place with a fortune of $241 billion, boosted by a $12 billion increase in the past month. Dell began selling computers from his dorm room at the University of Texas at just 19 years old, earning about $80,000 during his freshman year. Today, he is chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, which formed from a $60 billion merger with EMC in 2016. Dell has taken the company public, privatized it with Silver Lake, and later returned it to public markets through a complex restructuring. His wealth has also benefited from the 2023 sale of VMware to Broadcom.
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, holds the sixth position with an estimated $197 billion, up about $6 billion in August. Zuckerberg launched Facebook in 2004 while at Harvard, which later evolved into Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. He remains CEO and owns approximately 13% of Meta. Along with his wife, Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg has committed significant philanthropic efforts, especially in medical research. Meta recently agreed to an $18 billion settlement in a lawsuit involving 29 US states over the impact of its platforms on children and social media.
Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison reclaimed seventh place after his fortune grew by an estimated $25 billion, propelled by a 15% rise in Oracle shares during August, bringing his net worth to about $193 billion. This gain reversed his earlier fall to eighth place and put him ahead of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Ellison has frequently shifted among the top ranks of global wealth, briefly becoming the world’s second-richest person earlier this year.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang slipped to eighth place despite a $17 billion increase in his fortune. The surge reflects the soaring demand for Nvidia’s chips, which are central to the artificial intelligence boom. Huang’s drop in ranking is due to Ellison’s larger gain rather than a decline in his own wealth. He remains a key figure benefiting from the intense investor enthusiasm surrounding AI infrastructure.
Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, moved into the top 10, rising from 11th to ninth with a $10 billion increase. Ballmer joined Microsoft during its early expansion and succeeded Bill Gates as CEO. Although he stepped down from the top role, he remains one of Microsoft’s largest individual shareholders. His wealth is closely linked to Microsoft’s sustained growth over the years.
Rounding out the top 10 is Spanish retail magnate Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara and former head of Inditex, with an estimated $148 billion fortune. Ortega added roughly $5 billion in August, moving up from 12th to 10th place. He is the only non-American in the top 10, with his wealth primarily derived from his stake in Inditex, the fashion conglomerate behind Zara and other major brands.
