Outlook Business Desk
According to the 40th annual edition of the Forbes World’s Billionaires list, 2026 sees 3,428 billionaires globally, up 400 from last year. Their combined wealth reached a record $20.1 trillion, up sharply from $16.1 trillion in 2025.
The ultra-wealthy category grew rapidly, with 20 individuals now owning fortunes over $100 billion, up from 15 last year. This small group controls almost one-fifth of all global billionaire wealth.
Elon Musk leads the 2026 billionaire list with $839 billion, mainly boosted by Tesla and SpaceX. He becomes the first person to surpass $800 billion, moving closer to the milestone of becoming the world’s first trillionaire.
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin hold the second and third spots with $257 billion and $237 billion. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has $224 billion, while Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg rounds out the top five with $222 billion.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s wealth increased 27% this year to $6.5 billion, supported by cryptocurrency gains and the dismissal of a New York fraud penalty. He now ranks 645th on the global billionaire list.
On the other hand, India’s top 10 billionaires collectively hold $368 billion, over a third of the nation’s billionaire wealth. Their combined fortunes grew by $32 billion in a single year.
Mukesh Ambani remains the richest person in India and Asia, with his fortune rising due to a 12% increase in Reliance Industries shares. Despite this growth, his wealth stays just under $100 billion. Meanwhile, Gautam Adani ranks second with significant wealth growth, while together he and Ambani added $14.7 billion.
Savitri Jindal, the chairperson of the OP Jindal Group, ranks third, leading 20 Indian women billionaires and stands as the wealthiest woman in India.