Money Train: How the World's Richest Arrived at the Top 5
In a global economy that roars continuously forward at lightning speed, fortunes can potentially be made and lost in the span of a day. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a daily ranking of the world's 500 richest individuals. While many of the names in the top ten have become as iconic in their own right as the tech companies that propelled them to wealth and fame, there is always room for a few surprises. In addition to their business acumen and accomplishments, many of the men on the list are also active philanthropists. And if the thought of all that wealth feels intimidating and out of reach, consider the fact that the ten richest people on Bloomberg's billionaire index are all self-made, many with humble and unremarkable beginnings.
Note that the specific rankings change frequently with stock price moves
1-Jeff Bezos (Total net worth $99.6B)
Jeff Bezos has become synonymous with his company, Amazon, the online book retailer turned global e-commerce juggernaut he founded in Seattle in 1994. Mr. Bezos still runs Amazon, ranked the world's fourth-largest information technology company by revenue. In addition to retail and tech, Amazon has also ventured into the streaming game, with a number of original shows in development.
When Amazon's stock price surges up, Bezos edges out Bill Gates and moves into the pole position on Bloomberg's Index. When Amazon's stock eases up, Bezos tends to slip into the second position.
Nationality: American
Born: January 12, 1964 (age 53) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Spouse: MacKenzie Tuttle
Children: 4
Famous Quote:
"There are two kinds of companies, those that work to try to charge more and those that work to charge less. We will be the second."
- Jeff Bezos
2-Bill Gates (Total net worth $89.9B)
It might come as a surprise that Bill Gates, who has dominated "world's richest" lists for well over a decade and usually tops the index at number one, is currently is second place. But note that he's neck-and-neck with Jeff Bezos, so depending on the day and the stock market, he still toggles between #1 and #2.
As co-founder of Microsoft, Mr. Gates still holds a 2.4 percent stake in the company, along with a portfolio of diversified assets through a number of publicly traded companies across multiple business sectors, including Canada's biggest railroad operator. Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The Giving Pledge, Mr. Gates has pledged a large portion of his fortune to help solve some of the world's most pressing public health problems.
Nationality: American
Born: October 28, 1955 Seattle, Washington, USA
Spouse: Melinda Gates
Children: 3
Famous Quote:
"The PC has improved the world in just about every area you can think of. Amazing developments in communications, collaboration and efficiencies. New kinds of entertainment and social media. Access to information and the ability to give a voice people who would never have been heard of."
- Bill Gates
3-Warren Buffett (Total net worth $83.1B)
Warren "the Oracle of Omaha" Buffett's origin story is as American as the proverbial apple pie. Known as one of the most successful and prolific investors of all time, Mr. Buffett famously began his professional career as a paperboy and rode an enviable work ethic all the way to the top of the finance world, culminating with his holding company, Berkshire Hathaway. Fun fact: Berkshire Hathaway was originally a textile manufacturer, which eventually came to be the umbrella for 60+ companies under management.
Nationality: American
Born: August 30, 1930 (age 87), in Omaha, NE, USA
Spouse: Astrid Menks
Children: 3
Famous Quote:
"We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful."
- Warren Buffett
4-Amancio Ortega (Total net worth $76.2B)
The tech sector may account for the largest slice of the pie, but the third richest billionaire in the world and number one in Europe is the head of retail giant Inditex Ventures, most famous for the Zara fast-fashion clothing chain. A quintessential "rags-to-riches" success story, Amancio Ortega rose from a humble working class background in Spain to run a multinational retail empire, where he continues to work to this day at the age of 80.
Nationality: Spanish
Born: 28 March 1936 (age 81) in Busdongo de Arbás, León, Spain
Spouse: Flora Pérez Marcote
Children: 3
Famous Quote:
"In the street, I only want to be recognised by my family, my friends and people I work with."
- Amancio Ortega
5-Mark Zuckerberg (Total net worth $73.1B)
Like most of the famous tech entrepreneurs on the list, Mark Zuckerberg needs no introduction. Like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg famously left Harvard early to work on the social network that would come to change the world and influence everything from politics and media to interpersonal communications. As co-founder and current Chairman and CEO of Facebook, Mr. Zuckerberg is the youngest member of the list.
Nationality: American
Born: May 14, 1984 (age 33) in White Plains, New York, USA
Spouse: Priscilla Chan
Children: 2
Famous Quote:
"The Hacker Way is an approach to building that involves continuous improvement and iteration. Hackers believe that something can always be better, and that nothing is ever complete."
- Mark Zuckerberg
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