The wealth that commands the world: who are the billionaires shaping the future in 2025?

The composition of the list of the world’s richest men reveals much more than numbers: it shows which sector truly concentrates global economic power. According to updated data, technology and innovation absolutely dominate the top of planetary fortunes, with a clear division between those who built digital empires and those who capitalized on emerging trends.

The Era of Technology: How Nine American Billionaires Control the Ranking

Among the top ten billionaires on the planet, nine are U.S. citizens. This concentration is no coincidence — it reflects American hegemony in sectors that define the current economy: cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and future mobility. Bernard Arnault, of French luxury, remains the only European exception among the top spots, demonstrating how even the traditional premium goods sector must compete with tech giants.

The Uncontested Leaders: Who Accumulates Wealth the Most

Elon Musk remains at the absolute top, commanding an estimated net worth of US$ 358 billion. His wealth concentration surpasses Tesla — although the electric vehicle manufacturer is his main asset. SpaceX, xAI, and the X platform expanded his influence in strategic sectors. Additionally, Musk holds positions in digital assets such as Bitcoin (currently at $87.81K), Ethereum ($2.95K), and Dogecoin ($0.13), diversifying his exposure in cryptocurrencies.

Tied for second place, Larry Ellison and Mark Zuckerberg share fortunes of US$ 251 billion each. Ellison solidified his position through Oracle, dominant in corporate databases and cloud computing — sectors that continue to generate massive revenues. Zuckerberg, in turn, expanded his empire beyond Facebook and Instagram by embracing the metaverse through Meta, betting on augmented and virtual reality technologies.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, remains with a net worth above US$ 247 billion. Although he has stepped down as CEO, the e-commerce creator continues to control the company and its AWS division — cloud infrastructure that has become an essential commodity. Bezos also diversified through Blue Origin and strategic holdings in other sectors.

The Billionaire Computer Scientists

The duo Larry Page and Sergey Brin, both co-founders of Google, maintain fortunes of US$ 165 billion and US$ 154 billion respectively. Both continue to invest heavily in emerging sectors: autonomous mobility, biotechnology, and AI architecture — areas that promise to revolutionize the economy again.

The growth of Jensen Huang, creator of NVIDIA, exemplifies the current opportunity perfectly. With a net worth of US$ 149 billion, Huang rose significantly in the ranking thanks to the AI boom. NVIDIA’s GPUs have become indispensable infrastructure in data centers, machine learning, and high-performance computing worldwide.

Beyond Technology: Strategic Investors

Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, accumulates US$ 174 billion thanks to the massive growth of the Azure platform and the corporate ecosystem. He is also known as the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, diversifying his wealth beyond software.

Warren Buffett, a global reference in value investing, maintains US$ 141 billion as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. His long-term approach contrasts with the aggressiveness of other tech billionaires but remains an inspiration for conservative investors.

The 20 Richest Men in the World in 2025

Among the top 20 this year, the geographic distribution shows: 18 Americans, 1 French (Bernard Arnault with US$ 156 billion), and 1 Indian in the expanded list. The sectors represented vary between technology, retail, manufacturing, finance, and luxury goods, but technology remains clearly dominant with approximately 60% of the top 20.

What the Ranking Reveals About Wealth Creation

Analyzing these profiles reveals consistent patterns among those who accumulate and maintain billions:

• Continuous innovation: Musk, Huang, and Page do not stop at their initial success — they constantly enter new markets
• Focus on structural trends: AI, cloud computing, and future mobility absorb investments from the largest fortunes
• Strategic diversification: Wealth rarely comes from a single asset — portfolios include operating companies, real estate investments, and positions in cryptocurrencies
• Long-term horizon: Contrary to what many think, almost all practice a multi-decade vision, not quick gains

The fundamental lesson for ordinary investors: accumulated wealth follows long-term technological and behavioral trends. The world’s richest men did not bet against the future — they bet on it.