As 2023 comes to a close, it's safe to say that, away from the war-ravaged melancholic tone engulfing our fair shores, this year has been kind to the ultra-wealthy. According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, the collective fortunes of the top 500 individuals soared by $1.5 trillion, which is a remarkable reversal from the previous year's decline of $1.4 trillion.
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At the top of this grand procession of affluence stands Elon Musk, whose fortunes rose from $95.4 billion to an awe-inspiring $232 billion. Musk's star soared due to his 12.95% stake in the Tesla company. The electric car maker's stock has reached a notable $248 per share, marking a 130% surge. Even amid the trials and tribulations of his social media platform, X, Musk's fortunes remained unyielding.
Enigmatic Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg left his indelible mark on the narrative as well. His fortunes swelled from a respectable $84 billion to $128 billion, securing him a prestigious 6th place among the world's wealthiest. And let us not overlook freshly minted space-gazer Jeff Bezos, whose fortunes surged by $71.3 billion, ascending to a princely sum of $178 billion, firmly placing him in 3rd position.
The list is populated by a cast of tech-savvy luminaries, with their rise in fortunes mirroring the resounding success of Artificial Intelligence, or AI. Bill Gates, the former Microsoft chief, claimed the 4th spot with a fortune of $141 billion. Not far behind, the seasoned titan Steve Ballmer, himself the former CEO of Microsoft, reveled in a generous slice of the pie with a striking $131 billion, courtesy of his 4% stake in the company.
The dynamic duo behind Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, brought their own brand of enchantment to the narrative. Page accumulated a handsome fortune of $43.9 billion, securing a well-deserved seventh place, while Brin followed closely behind with $41 billion, earning him the 9th position. Entrepreneur and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison reached an impressive $123 billion.
Michael Dell, the man behind the Dell line of personal computers, stands at 16th place, with a hefty $76.4 billion.
Bernard Arnault does not come from the world of technology but enters the list with his touch of luxury and refinement. As the mastermind behind LVMH, the French luxury empire, he added a sumptuous $16.9 billion to his already-impressive wealth. Despite the luxury sector facing a few hurdles, Arnault's fortunes rose to $179 billion, placing him 2nd on the list behind Musk, and the only non-American in the top 10.
Meanwhile, Warren Buffett settled happily for a $120 billion after gaining a respectable $12.3 billion throughout the year.
The fortune of the world's richest woman and heiress of the L'Oréal cosmetics empire, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, stands at over $100 billion, claiming a more-than-respectable 12th position.
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Star Trek" actor, William Shatner (C) speaks with Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos (R)
(Photo: AFP, Blue Origin)
In a tale of contrasting fortunes, the resilient Indian business tycoon Gautam Adani faced a slight setback, as he bid farewell to $37.3 billion, primarily due to the Hindenburg Report's shadow cast upon the group's practices. Nevertheless, with a fortune of $84.3 billion remaining, Adani is not exactly turning over couch cushions in search of loose change.