Elon Musk Retains the Crown as the World’s Richest Person
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has once again emerged as the world’s richest person in the Hurun Global Rich List 2025, boasting a staggering net worth of $420 billion. This marks his fourth time in five years at the top of the billionaire rankings.
According to the latest report by Hurun Research, Musk’s wealth witnessed a dramatic 82% surge, adding an astonishing $189 billion in a single year. However, despite this incredible growth, his fortune has already dipped by $100 billion since the list’s cut-off date of January 15, 2025, due to Tesla’s stock decline.
How Did Musk’s Wealth Increase and Decline?
The report highlights that the US presidential election victory of Donald Trump significantly boosted the fortunes of US billionaires, including Musk. His strong association with Trump and other top investors contributed to his wealth explosion.
However, post-election, Musk’s net worth took a hit as Tesla’s market capitalization plunged by $700 billion. The primary reasons cited include:
- Increased competition from Chinese EV makers
- Consumer backlash over Musk’s political stance
- Investor concerns regarding Tesla’s long-term growth
Despite this setback, Musk still remains the world’s richest person, leading the exclusive “Eleven Zero Club” of billionaires with fortunes exceeding $100 billion.
Jeff Bezos Holds Firm at No. 2, Zuckerberg Joins the Top 3 for the First Time
Following Musk, Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos retained his second position on the global billionaire rankings. His fortune surged by 44%, reaching an impressive $266 billion.
Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg climbed to third place for the first time, amassing a wealth of $242 billion after an $84 billion jump. His remarkable rise is attributed to Meta’s success in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and social media dominance.
Who Else Made It to the Top 10?
Here’s a look at the top 10 billionaires in the Hurun Global Rich List 2025:
| Rank | Billionaire | Company/Industry | Net Worth ($ Billion) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | Tesla, SpaceX | $420B |
| 2 | Jeff Bezos | Amazon | $266B |
| 3 | Mark Zuckerberg | Meta (Facebook) | $242B |
| 4 | Larry Ellison | Oracle | $203B |
| 5 | Warren Buffett | Berkshire Hathaway | $167B |
| 6 | Larry Page | Google (Alphabet) | $164B |
| 7 | Bernard Arnault | LVMH (Luxury Goods) | $157B |
| 8 | Steve Ballmer | Microsoft | $156B |
| 9 | Sergey Brin | Google (Alphabet) | $148B |
| 10 | Bill Gates | Microsoft, Philanthropy | $143B |
Larry Ellison Moves Up, Warren Buffett Holds Strong
Oracle’s Larry Ellison climbed one spot to fourth place, with his wealth growing by $59 billion to $203 billion. Warren Buffett also maintained a strong presence in the top five, with his fortune reaching $167 billion.
Global Billionaire Trends: The Rich Get Richer
According to Hurun Global Rich List 2025, there are now 3,442 billionaires worldwide. Some key takeaways:
- The United States leads the billionaire count
- India secures third place after China
- The “Eleven Zero Club” (billionaires with over $100 billion) now has 17 members
Mukesh Ambani Drops Out of Top 10 – Still India’s Richest Person
India’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani, has fallen out of the world’s top 10 billionaires after his wealth declined by ₹1 trillion in the past year. Despite this, he remains Asia’s richest individual, with a net worth of ₹8.6 trillion ($103 billion).
Gautam Adani Becomes India’s Biggest Wealth Gainer
Meanwhile, businessman Gautam Adani saw the highest surge in wealth among Indian billionaires. His fortune rose by nearly ₹1 trillion, reaching ₹8.4 trillion ($101 billion). Adani’s wealth growth is fueled by his diversified business empire, spanning:
- Ports & Airports
- Power Generation & Renewables
- Mining & Cement
- Media & Infrastructure
India’s Top 10 Billionaires in 2025
| Rank | Billionaire | Net Worth (₹ Trillion) | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mukesh Ambani | ₹8.6T | Reliance Industries |
| 2 | Gautam Adani | ₹8.4T | Infrastructure & Energy |
| 3 | Roshni Nadar | ₹3.5T | IT (HCL Technologies) |
| 4 | Dilip Shanghvi & Family | ₹2.5T | Pharmaceuticals |
| 5 | Azim Premji & Family | ₹2.2T | IT (Wipro) |
| 6 | Kumar Mangalam Birla & Family | ₹2T | Conglomerate |
| 7 | Cyrus S Poonawalla & Family | ₹2T | Pharmaceuticals |
| 8 | Niraj Bajaj & Family | ₹1.6T | Automobiles & Finance |
| 9 | Ravi Jaipuria & Family | ₹1.4T | Food & Beverages |
| 10 | Radhakishan Damani & Family | ₹1.4T | Retail (DMart) |
Women Billionaires in India: Roshni Nadar Debuts in the Top 3
A major highlight of the Hurun Rich List 2025 is the rise of Roshni Nadar, chairperson of HCL Technologies. After receiving a 47% stake transfer from her father Shiv Nadar, her net worth soared to ₹3.5 trillion ($42 billion), making her the richest woman in India.
India Now Has 284 Billionaires – Mumbai Leads the Way
India’s billionaire count has increased to 284 (up by 13 from last year). Among them:
- Mumbai hosts the most billionaires (5 out of top 10)
- New Delhi follows with 2 billionaires
- Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Pune contribute 1 each
- The combined net worth of India’s billionaires stands at ₹98 trillion ($1.2 trillion)