Suddenly, billionaires are yesterday’s news: Becoming the world’s first trillionaire is where it’s at.
Recently, an analysis by Informa Connect Academy — which offers global education and training solutions — ranked billionaires across the world to determine when each is likely to reach trillionaire status.
Following are the individuals projected to get there soonest.
1. Elon Musk
Estimated net worth as of 2024: Roughly $300 billion (according to Forbes)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 109.88%
Main source(s) of wealth: Tesla and SpaceX
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2027
The world’s richest person is well on his way to trillionaire status. The bulk of Elon Musk’s fortune rests in Tesla stock, although SpaceX also is a major contributor, as we detail in “7 Life Lessons to Learn From Elon Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Milestone.”
2. Guatam Adani
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $84 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 122.86%
Main source(s) of wealth: Infrastructure and commodities
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2028
Guatam Adani founded the Indian conglomerate Adani Group. Although his $84 billion net worth is much smaller than Musk’s, his net worth has grown at a faster rate. So he is expected to nip at Musk’s heels for the title of the world’s first trillionaire.
3. Jensen Huang
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $77 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 111.88%
Main source(s) of wealth: Semiconductors
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2028
Jensen Huang is one of the founders of NVIDIA, the California-based technology company that is itself one of the world’s handful of trillion-dollar companies.
Huang’s net worth is even smaller than that of Adani. But his net worth has been growing at a faster annual clip than Musk’s, helping him earn the No. 3 position on Informa’s list.
4. Prajogo Pangestu
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $43.4 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 135.95%
Main source(s) of wealth: Petrochemicals and energy
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2028
Prajogo Pangestu is the founder and chairman of Barito Pacific, Indonesia’s biggest petrochemical company. The bulk of his wealth comes from a controlling stake in the company, according to Bloomberg.
5. Bernard Arnault and family
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $233 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 29.33%
Main source(s) of wealth: LVMH (parent company of luxury brands like Louis Vuitton)
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2030
Bernard Arnault is a French businessman. He is chairman and CEO of the French conglomerate LVMH, which is the largest luxury-products company in the world. It owns dozens of high-end brands — including Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, Hennessy, Christian Dior, Dom Perignon, Fendi, Fenty Beauty, Givenchy, Guerlain, KVD Beauty, Make Up For Ever, Marc Jacobs, TAG Heuer, Tiffany & Co. — as well as retailers like Sephora.
6. Mark Zuckerberg
Estimated net worth as of 2024: Roughly $200 billion (according to Forbes)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 35.76%
Main source(s) of wealth: Facebook
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2030
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder, chairman and CEO of Meta, the parent company of apps like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
It was recently reported that his net worth has increased by $70 billion in 2024 alone. But while he has the second-largest wealth of any billionaire on this list, his wealth has been growing at a considerably slower rate than many of those above him, helping Zuckerberg him down to the No. 6 spot.
7. Phil Knight and family
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $40.9 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 7.99%
Main source(s) of wealth: Nike
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2030
Phil Knight co-founded Nike way back in 1964. He was CEO from that time until 2004. Knight also owns Laika, a stop-motion film production company formerly known as Will Vinton Studios.
8. Mukesh Ambani
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $116 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 28.25%
Main source(s) of wealth: Diversified
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2033
Mukesh Ambani is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, a company with interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas and more. Ambani’s late father — Dhirubhai Ambani — founded Reliance in the 1960s.
9. Michael Dell
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $91 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 30.89%
Main source(s) of wealth: Dell Technologies
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2033
Michael Dell is chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, one of the world’s largest IT companies. When he was 19, Dell founded the company that bears his name with just $1,000.
10. Steve Ballmer
Estimated net worth as of 2024: $121 billion (according to Informa)
Average annual growth rate of his net worth: 25.76%
Main source(s) of wealth: Microsoft
When he is projected to become a trillionaire: 2034
Steve Ballmer served as CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. He now owns the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. He purchased the sports team for $2 billion in 2014, and Forbes now estimates its worth at $4.65 billion.
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