Forbes has released its latest list of the world’s wealthiest individuals as of 1 June 2025, with Elon Musk reclaiming the top spot.
Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, X) leads with a net worth of $423 billion.
He is followed by Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) with $224 billion, and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) with $220 billion.
Larry Ellison (Oracle) holds $206 billion, Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) has $158 billion, and Bernard Arnault (LVMH) stands at $144 billion.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google) have $142 billion and $136 billion respectively.
Steve Ballmer (Microsoft, LA Clippers, investments) is worth $133 billion, just ahead of Amancio Ortega (Inditex/Zara) with $124 billion.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive now holds an estimated net worth of $423 billion, following a substantial $36 billion increase in May alone.
According to Forbes, the surge in Musk’s wealth was driven by a 23% rise in Tesla shares, spurred by the announcement of its upcoming robotaxi launch and his departure from a high-profile government advisory role.
Forbes noted that this combination “further cemented Musk’s status as the world’s wealthiest person by far.”
Mark Zuckerberg climbed into second place with a net worth of $224 billion, overtaking Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who now ranks third with $220 billion.
Zuckerberg’s leap came on the back of an 18% rise in Meta’s share price, while Bezos saw a $19 billion gain amid an 11% increase in Amazon’s stock.
The top 10 list reflects a strong month for technology billionaires, as stock markets rebounded from April’s volatility.
The Nasdaq and S&P 500 rose 10% and 6% respectively in May, boosted by robust corporate earnings, easing trade tensions, and a slight recovery in U.S. consumer confidence.
Larry Ellison remains in fourth position with a net worth of $206 billion, followed by Warren Buffett at $158 billion.
However, Forbes stated Buffett was the biggest loser this month, dropping $9 billion after announcing plans to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Shares of the conglomerate fell 5% in response.
French luxury magnate Bernard Arnault, now in sixth place with $144 billion, also saw his net worth slip by $3 billion as shares in LVMH dipped 2%.
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin took the seventh and eighth spots, with $142 billion and $136 billion respectively.
Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, moved up to ninth place with $133 billion, overtaking Spanish retail mogul Amancio Ortega, who rounds out the top ten at $124 billion.
Ballmer’s wealth increased by $15 billion due to a 16% jump in Microsoft’s stock price. In contrast, Ortega’s fortune saw only a modest $600 million rise, as Inditex shares remained largely flat.
Collectively, the top ten richest people in the world are now worth a combined $1.9 trillion, up $140 billion from the beginning of May.
