Elon Musk tops the list of the world’s top 10 richest people in January 2026 with a staggering $726 billion net worth, far ahead of others amid booming tech valuations. This ranking, based on Forbes’ latest data as of January 1, 2026, highlights dominance by American tech moguls.
Top 10 Richest People 2026
Here’s the complete rundown of the top 10 richest individuals worldwide right now, including their net worths, primary wealth sources, ages, and residences. These figures reflect market conditions as of early January 2026 and the top 10 can fluctuate daily with stock prices.
| Rank | Name | Net Worth | Source of Wealth | Age | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | $726B (↑$244B) | Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, X | 54 | Austin, Texas |
| 2 | Larry Page | $257B (↓$5B) | Google (Alphabet) | 52 | Palo Alto, CA |
| 3 | Larry Ellison | $245B (↓$8B) | Oracle | 81 | Woodside, CA |
| 4 | Jeff Bezos | $242B (↓$2B) | Amazon | 61 | Miami, FL |
| 5 | Sergey Brin | $237B (↓$6B) | Google (Alphabet) | 52 | Los Altos, CA |
| 6 | Mark Zuckerberg | $226B (↑$4B) | Meta (Facebook) | 41 | Palo Alto, CA |
| 7 | Bernard Arnault | $195B (↑$5B) | LVMH (luxury goods) | 76 | Paris |
| 8 | Jensen Huang | $162B (↑$8B) | Nvidia (semiconductors) | 62 | Los Altos, CA |
| 9 | Warren Buffett | $149B (↓$3B) | Berkshire Hathaway | 95 | Omaha, NE |
| 10 | Steve Ballmer | $147B (↓$2B) | Microsoft, Clippers | 69 | Hunts Point, WA |
Together, these ten control $2.6 trillion, up $200 billion from last month despite market dips for most.
1. Elon Musk: The Unmatched Leader
Elon Musk’s fortune exploded by $244 billion in the past month to $726 billion, making him nearly three times richer than No. 2. Key drivers include SpaceX’s valuation doubling to $800 billion and restored Tesla stock options worth $130 billion after a court win. At 54, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO from Austin continues innovating with xAI and eyes Mars colonization, solidifying his spot since May 2024.
2. Larry Page: Google Visionary
Google co-founder Larry Page holds second at $257 billion, down $5 billion from Alphabet stock dips. The 52-year-old Palo Alto resident stepped back from daily ops but influences AI via board role and a new manufacturing AI startup. His rise to No. 2 in late 2025 underscores Google’s AI push with Gemini models.
3. Larry Ellison: Oracle Powerhouse
Oracle’s Larry Ellison ranks third with $245 billion after an $8 billion drop from stock slides. The 81-year-old from Woodside joined Trump’s Stargate AI project, committing $500 billion to U.S. data centers. His media moves, like the Paramount-Skydance merger, diversify beyond cloud AI dominance.
4. Jeff Bezos: Amazon Empire Builder
Jeff Bezos sits at $242 billion, a $2 billion dip, from his Amazon stake and Blue Origin. Now in Miami at 61, he’s co-CEO of AI startup Project Prometheus after stepping down as Amazon CEO. Bezos pioneered e-commerce and cloud computing, once topping lists from 2018-2021.
5. Sergey Brin: Alphabet Innovator
Sergey Brin, Larry Page’s co-founder, has $237 billion following a $6 billion loss. The 52-year-old from Los Altos aids Alphabet’s AI, contributing to Gemini and donating $1.1 billion to nonprofits. His wealth ties to controlling Alphabet shares amid AI and cloud growth.
6. Mark Zuckerberg: Meta Maestro
Mark Zuckerberg’s $226 billion rose $4 billion on Meta’s social dominance. At 41 in Palo Alto, he oversees Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp for billions of users. Recent philanthropy spotlights his wife Priscilla Chan’s disease-curing efforts.
7. Bernard Arnault: Luxury King
France’s Bernard Arnault breaks U.S. dominance at No. 7 with $195 billion (up $5 billion). The 76-year-old Paris CEO of LVMH runs 70+ brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior, grooming his five children for succession. He held the top spot earlier in 2023-2024.
8. Jensen Huang: Nvidia Trailblazer
Jensen Huang gained $8 billion to $162 billion as Nvidia hit $5 trillion market cap. The 62-year-old from Los Altos leads GPU dominance in gaming and AI. Born in Taiwan, his story from immigrant to chip king inspires tech aspirants.
9. Warren Buffett: Investment Oracle
Warren Buffett climbed to $149 billion despite a $3 billion drop, retiring as Berkshire CEO at 95. From Omaha, the “Oracle” pledged 99% of his wealth to charity, donating $65 billion so far. His value investing built an empire of Geico, Duracell, and more.
10. Steve Ballmer: Microsoft Legacy
Steve Ballmer enters top 10 at $147 billion, down $2 billion, from Microsoft shares and Clippers ownership. The 69-year-old ex-CEO bought the NBA team for $2 billion, now worth $7.5 billion. He joined Microsoft as employee 30, shaping its growth.
Why Tech Dominates Richest List
Nine of the top 10 are Americans, all men, fueled by AI, EVs, and cloud booms—threshold now $147 billion. Musk’s lead stems from private SpaceX gains and public Tesla surges, while losers like Ellison face AI bubble doubts. Expect shifts with markets; check Forbes real-time for updates.
Trends Shaping 2026 Billionaires
AI investments propel gains, like Huang’s Nvidia rise, but volatility hit most last month. Non-tech like Arnault shows luxury resilience, and Buffett proves enduring value strategies work. Women’s top is Alice Walton at $119 billion from Walmart. As 2026 unfolds, watch SpaceX IPOs and AI regulations for list shakeups.
