Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have claimed the top spots on Forbes’ 2025 Billionaire’s List, continuing to dominate the ranks of the wealthiest individuals globally, USA Today reports.
According to Forbes’ annual report, Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has soared to the number one position with a net worth of $342 billion. This marks a remarkable lead of $126 billion over the second-wealthiest individual, Zuckerberg, who holds a net worth of $216 billion.
Musk’s fortune comes from his significant roles in Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X, as well as his involvement in ventures like PayPal and Neuralink. Despite his fame for rocket flights, Musk’s climb to the top of the wealth rankings was achieved on the back of his business empire on Earth. Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, is also a key player in the tech industry, and his fortune comes from his leadership of the social media giant.
Forbes’ 2025 World’s Billionaires List includes 3,028 billionaires, whose combined net worth totals $16.1 trillion. The list highlights the continued dominance of American entrepreneurs in global wealth, with most of the top 25 billionaires residing in the United States. Other prominent names on the list include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who ranks third with $215 billion, and Oracle co-founder Lawrence Ellison, who holds the fourth spot with $192 billion.
Among the 25 wealthiest individuals, the list features a diverse range of industries, from technology and retail to cosmetics and telecom. It includes business magnates such as Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, Bill Gates of Microsoft, and Amancio Ortega of Zara. There are also billionaires from France, Spain, Mexico, India, Singapore, and the UAE, adding an international flavor to the top ranks.
The top 25 richest individuals range in age from 40 to 94, with tech founders, investors, and heirs making up a large portion of the list. In total, America has the highest number of billionaires, followed by China and India. The list was compiled using stock prices and exchange rates as of March 7, 2025.
