Forbes 2026 Billionaires List: American Dominance with One Notable Exception
What does it truly take to rank among the wealthiest individuals on the planet? According to the latest Forbes billionaires list for January 2026, you need a fortune exceeding £100 billion. This exclusive club, drawn from over 3,100 billionaires worldwide, showcases the pinnacle of global wealth accumulation, with a striking pattern of American pre-eminence.
The roster of the planet's most affluent is overwhelmingly dominated by American citizens, highlighting the concentration of extreme wealth in the United States. From technology titans to investment legends, these individuals have built empires that span industries and continents.
The Top Ten Wealthiest Individuals in 2026
Here is the complete breakdown of the world's ten richest people according to Forbes' January 2026 assessment, complete with their net worth figures and the sources of their extraordinary fortunes.
- Elon Musk - Net worth: £528 billion ($726 billion, up $244 billion since last month)
Source: Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, X
Age: 54
The world's wealthiest individual maintains his position at the top, with a fortune nearly three times that of his closest competitor. Musk has held the number one spot since May 2024 and made history in October 2025 by becoming the first person to reach a £500 billion valuation. The South African-born entrepreneur holds citizenship in the United States and Canada. - Larry Page - Net worth: £186 billion ($257 billion, down $5 billion since last month)
Source: Google co-founder and former CEO
Age: 52
Page co-developed Google's revolutionary search engine algorithm with Sergey Brin. The technology pioneer now serves as a board member and controlling shareholder of Alphabet, Google's parent company. - Larry Ellison - Net worth: £178 billion ($245 billion, down $8 billion since last month)
Source: Oracle co-founder
Age: 81
Ellison helped establish Oracle, which grew into one of the world's largest database management businesses. He continues to hold the positions of chairman and chief technology officer at the corporation he helped build. - Jeff Bezos - Net worth: £176 billion ($242 billion, down $2 billion since last month)
Source: Amazon founder
Age: 62
Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 and currently serves as executive chairman of the e-commerce giant. His diverse holdings include The Washington Post newspaper and aerospace company Blue Origin. - Sergey Brin - Net worth: £173 billion ($237 billion, down $6 billion since last month)
Source: Google co-founder
Age: 52
Brin created Google alongside Larry Page in 1998. Born in Russia, he immigrated to the United States at age six. The former president of Alphabet now holds positions as board member and controlling shareholder. - Mark Zuckerberg - Net worth: £165 billion ($226 billion, up $4 billion since last month)
Source: Meta co-founder
Age: 41
Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook with fellow Harvard students in 2004 before leaving university to focus on the social media platform. The tech mogul controls 13 percent of the firm, which rebranded as Meta in 2021. - Bernard Arnault - Net worth: £142 billion ($195 billion, up $5 billion since last month)
Source: LVMH CEO
Age: 76
Arnault presides over luxury conglomerate LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) as chairman and chief executive. The French businessman stands as the sole non-American on this exclusive list, controlling prestigious brands including Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, and Sephora. His five children all hold positions within the family-controlled empire. - Jensen Huang - Net worth: £118 billion ($162 billion, up $8 billion since last month)
Source: Nvidia founder and CEO
Age: 62
Huang co-founded graphics card company Nvidia in 1993. Born in Taiwan, he relocated to America at age nine. The microchip designer has served as chief executive since the company's inception, guiding it to become a leader in its field. - Warren Buffett - Net worth: £109 billion ($149 billion, down $3 billion since last month)
Source: Retired CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 95
Widely regarded as one of history's most successful investors, Buffett stepped down as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway at the close of 2025. The son of a Nebraska congressman began his investment journey by purchasing his first shares at age 13. - Steve Ballmer - Net worth: $147 billion (£107 billion, down $2 billion since last month)
Source: Former Microsoft CEO
Age: 69
The former chief executive of Microsoft joined the company in 1980 as its 30th employee after abandoning Stanford's MBA programme. Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers basketball franchise in 2014, the same year he stepped down from Microsoft.
The American Wealth Phenomenon
The composition of this elite group reveals a remarkable concentration of wealth within American borders. Nine of the ten individuals hold American citizenship, with many having built their fortunes through technology companies that achieved global recognition and dominance.
This American dominance reflects broader economic trends, including the success of Silicon Valley, the growth of e-commerce, and the expansion of digital platforms that have transformed how people communicate, shop, and access information worldwide.
The technology sector proves particularly prominent, with representatives from Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, Oracle, Nvidia, and Tesla all featuring among the top ten. These companies have not only generated extraordinary wealth for their founders but have also reshaped entire industries and daily life across the globe.
The Singular Exception: Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault's presence on the list demonstrates that extraordinary wealth creation extends beyond the technology sector and American borders. The French businessman has built his fortune through luxury goods, showing that traditional industries can still produce billionaires on this scale when managed with vision and strategic acumen.
Arnault's success with LVMH highlights the enduring value of premium brands and the global appetite for luxury products. His family-controlled business model represents a different approach to wealth preservation and growth compared to the publicly traded technology companies that dominate the rest of the list.
The Forbes 2026 billionaires list provides a snapshot of global wealth distribution at the highest levels, revealing patterns of industry concentration, geographical distribution, and the extraordinary scale of modern fortunes. As these individuals continue to shape their companies and industries, their wealth trajectories will offer insights into broader economic trends and the evolving nature of global capitalism.
