Business Desk
Apr 13, 2024
The rich are getting richer, according to a recent Forbes report highlighting a record year for billionaires. The list reveals a staggering 2,781 billionaires globally, a jump of 141 from last year and surpassing the previous record set in 2021. Collectively, these billionaires hold a mind-boggling $14.2 trillion in wealth.
The United States continues to reign supreme in terms of billionaire density, boasting a record-breaking 813 individuals on the list. China follows closely behind with 473 billionaires, and India takes third place with 200.
Notably, California, often dubbed the land of opportunity, holds the title for the US state with the most billionaires — a whopping 186 according to March 2022 statistics. New York and Florida follow closely behind.
While the report celebrates the success of these ultra-wealthy individuals, it also fuels concerns about the growing wealth gap. The number of billionaires has skyrocketed in recent years, leading many to fear a shrinking middle class and a widening chasm between the rich and the poor.
This trend has significant social and economic implications, potentially leading to social unrest and dampening economic mobility.
Critics argue that the current economic system unfairly concentrates wealth at the top, limiting opportunities for the average person. They call for policies that promote a more equitable distribution of wealth, such as progressive taxation and increased investment in education and social programmes.
California's top 10 richest billionaires
- Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg has a net worth of $182.2 billion.
- Cofounder of Oracle, Larry Ellison has a net worth $150.9 billion
- Co-founder of Google, Larry Page has a net worth $130.1 billion
- Co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin has a net worth $125 billion
- Founder of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang has a net worth $76.5 billion
- Former CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt has a net worth $22.9 billion
- Cofounder of Asana, Dustin Moskovitz has a net worth $18.2 billion
- Real estate baron Donald Bren has a net worth $18 billion
- CEO and Cofounder of WhatsApp Inc, Jan Koum has a net worth $16.2 billion
- Cofounder of Arista Networks, Andreas von Bechtolsheim & family have a net worth $15.7 billion
