KiloElon Musk is the richest person in the world as of May 2026 with an estimated net worth of approximately $840 billion. He tops both the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list. Musk has held the position for most of the period since January 2021, briefly losing it to Bernard Arnault in December 2022. His lead over the next-wealthiest person is the largest gap in the recorded history of either ranking.
Top 16 richest people in the world, May 2026
| # | Name | Source | Net worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk United States | Tesla, SpaceX, xAI | $840B |
| 2 | Larry Page United States | Alphabet / Google | $257B |
| 3 | Sergey Brin United States | Alphabet / Google | $237B |
| 4 | Jeff Bezos United States | Amazon, Blue Origin | $224B |
| 5 | Mark Zuckerberg United States | Meta Platforms | $222B |
| 6 | Larry Ellison United States | Oracle | $190B |
| 7 | Bernard Arnault France | LVMH | $171B |
| 8 | Jensen Huang United States | NVIDIA | $154B |
| 9 | Steve Ballmer United States | Microsoft | $148B |
| 10 | Warren Buffett United States | Berkshire Hathaway | $147B |
| 11 | Bill Gates United States | Microsoft, Cascade | $145B |
| 12 | Mukesh Ambani India | Reliance Industries | $128B |
| 13 | Carlos Slim Mexico | América Móvil | $112B |
| 14 | Françoise Bettencourt Meyers France | L'Oréal | $98B |
| 15 | Michael Bloomberg United States | Bloomberg LP | $96B |
| 16 | MacKenzie Scott United States | Amazon, Yield Giving | $45B |
Estimates track the Forbes 2026 list, cross-checked against the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Figures update on the live Trillionaire Watch as markets move.
Why Musk leads by so much
Three holdings separate Musk from the field. His roughly 42 percent stake in SpaceX, the most valuable private company in the world at about $800 billion, alone accounts for some $336 billion. His Tesla stake is worth roughly $207 billion, and his half of xAI adds about $100 billion. No other person owns a piece of a company as valuable as SpaceX.
The richest woman, and the race to $1 trillion
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heir to the L'Oréal fortune, is the wealthiest woman in the world at about $98 billion, a title she has held since 2017. No individual has yet reached $1 trillion in personal net worth. Musk is closest, roughly $160 billion short. At his recent growth rate, he could cross the line within twelve to eighteen months. Read the full breakdown on Elon Musk's net worth.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the richest person in the world?
Elon Musk, with an estimated net worth of $840 billion as of May 2026. He leads the second-wealthiest person, Larry Page, by roughly $400 billion.
Who is the richest woman in the world?
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, heir to the L'Oréal cosmetics fortune, at approximately $98 billion. She has held the title since 2017.
Has anyone reached $1 trillion in net worth?
No. No individual has crossed $1 trillion in personal net worth. Musk is closest at $840 billion. The first to reach it will be the world's first trillionaire.
Who was the richest person before Elon Musk?
Jeff Bezos held the title from October 2017 to January 2021. Bill Gates held it for most of the prior two decades.
How is a billionaire's net worth calculated?
By adding the market value of public stock, the estimated value of private holdings from recent funding rounds, real estate and other assets, then subtracting known debts. Forbes and Bloomberg each publish daily estimates.