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From Google to luxury goods, these billionaires are the richest of the rich.
Americans dominate the list of the world's richest billionaires
(Image: Getty)
How much money does it take to be one of the richest people on Earth? The answer is a net worth above £100 billion. To amass such staggering wealth, most of these individuals founded technology companies known the world over. Interestingly, this list of the world's wealthiest as of January 2026, as reported by Forbes, is dominated by Americans. There are over 3,100 billionaires, according to the publication, and these are the richest of the rich and how they made their fortunes.
10. Steve Ballmer
Net worth: $147 billion (£107 billion) — down $2 billion since last month
Source: Former Microsoft CEO
Age: 69
The ex-CEO of Microsoft, who led the company from 2000 to 2014, started in 1980 as their 30th employee after dropping out of Stanford's MBA programme. Ballmer bought the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team the same year he retired.
(Image: Getty)
9. Warren Buffett
Net worth: £109 billion ($149 billion, down $3 billion since last month)
Source: Retired CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 95
One of the most successful investors of all time, Buffett retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, to the son of a congressman, he bought his first stock aged 13.
(Image: Getty)
8. Jensen Huang
Net worth: £118 billion ($162 billion, up $8 billion since last month)
Source: Nvidia founder and CEO
Age: 62
Huang co-founded the graphics card company Nvidia in 1993. The Taiwan-born entrepreneur moved to America at the age of nine. The microchip designer has served as chief executive of the company since its founding.
(Image: Getty)
7. Bernard Arnault
Net worth: £142 billion ($195 billion, up $5 billion since last month)
Source: LVMH CEO
Age: 76
Arnault sits at the top of the luxury empire known as LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy). The French chairman and CEO, the only non-American on the list, oversees brands like Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and Sephora. All five of his children work for LVMH.
(Image: Getty)
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