In a world where fortunes can be made and lost in the blink of an eye, the lives of the richest people on the planet are a source of endless fascination.
From tech moguls to retail tycoons, these billionaires not only shape the global economy but also influence culture, philanthropy, and innovation.
But beyond their staggering net worths, what intriguing stories and lesser-known facts lie behind their success?
In this article, we will explore ten of the wealthiest individuals in the world, uncovering interesting facts that highlight their unique journeys, quirky habits, and the impact they have on society.
1. Elon Musk
Elon Musk, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, is a prominent entrepreneur and business magnate known for founding and leading several high-profile companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company.
He co-founded PayPal, which was sold to eBay in 2002, and later established SpaceX in 2002 to revolutionize space travel and reduce costs associated with space missions.
Tesla, which he joined in 2004, focuses on electric vehicles and sustainable energy solutions, with notable products like the Model S, Model 3, and Cybertruck.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Elon Musk;
1. Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, to a Canadian mother and a South African father.
2. He exhibited entrepreneurial skills early, starting his first business at age 12 by selling a video game he created called Blastar for $500.
3. Musk moved to Canada at 18 to attend Queen’s University, later transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned degrees in physics and economics.
4. He founded his first company, Zip2, in 1995, which provided online city guide software and was sold for $307 million in 1999.
5. In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars.
6. He joined Tesla Motors in 2004, eventually becoming CEO, and the company is now the most valuable car manufacturer globally.
7. Musk has been involved in various ventures, including Neuralink, which focuses on developing brain-computer interface technology, and The Boring Company, aimed at reducing traffic congestion through tunnel construction.
2. Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos, born January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a prominent American business magnate best known as the founder and former CEO of Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce and cloud computing company.
He graduated from Princeton University in 1986 with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science and initially worked on Wall Street before launching Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore.
Under his leadership, Amazon expanded into a vast array of products and services, including cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS), which significantly contributes to its revenue.
Bezos stepped down as CEO in July 2021 but remains the executive chairman.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Jeff Bezos;
8. Bezos was born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was raised in Houston and Miami.
9. He founded Amazon in 1994, starting from a garage, initially selling books online, and originally named the company “Cadabra” before changing it to Amazon.
10. Bezos became a millionaire at the age of 33 and a billionaire by 35, making him one of the fastest-growing fortunes in history.
11. He has a passion for space exploration, founding Blue Origin in 2000, two years before Elon Musk started SpaceX.
12. Bezos played a cameo role in the 2016 film “Star Trek Beyond,” fulfilling a lifelong dream as a fan of the series.
13. In 2013, he purchased The Washington Post for $250 million, marking his entry into the media industry.
14. Bezos has made significant charitable contributions, including funding education projects through the Bezos Family Foundation and committing $1 billion annually to Blue Origin.
3. Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault, born on March 5, 1949, in Roubaix, France, is a prominent businessman and investor.
He is best known as the founder, chairman, and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate.
Arnault studied engineering at École Polytechnique and began his career in his father’s construction business, Ferret-Savinel.
He shifted the company’s focus to real estate and made a significant leap into the luxury sector by acquiring the struggling textile conglomerate Boussac Saint-Frères in 1984, which included Christian Dior.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Bernard Arnault;
15. Arnault was born on March 5, 1949, in Roubaix, France, and grew up in a devoutly Catholic family, with a mother who had a passion for fashion, particularly Christian Dior.
16. He studied engineering at École Polytechnique, one of France’s most prestigious schools, and began his career in his father’s construction firm, Ferret-Savinel, where he shifted the company’s focus to real estate.
17. Arnault made a significant move into the luxury goods market in 1984 by acquiring the struggling textile company Boussac Saint-Frères, which included the renowned fashion house Christian Dior.
18. He played a key role in the formation of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) in 1987 by merging Louis Vuitton with Moët Hennessy, and he became the majority shareholder and CEO shortly thereafter.
19. Arnault has been known for his aggressive business strategies, earning him the nickname “The Terminator” for his ability to revitalize brands and streamline operations within LVMH.
20. He has a notable interest in the arts, having established the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, which showcases contemporary art and culture.
21. Arnault is a family-oriented businessman, regularly meeting with his five children to discuss LVMH’s strategy, ensuring the family’s involvement in the luxury empire.
4. Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg, born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, is an American entrepreneur and computer programmer best known as the co-founder and CEO of Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms.
He launched Facebook in February 2004 while studying at Harvard University, where he briefly attended before dropping out to focus on the platform’s growth.
Under his leadership, Facebook became the world’s largest social networking site and went public in 2012.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Mark Zuckerberg;
22. Zuckerberg started programming at age 12, creating a messaging program that his father used in his dental office to notify him of new patients without yelling across the office.
23. He briefly attended Harvard University before dropping out to focus on growing Facebook, which he co-founded in 2004 from his dormitory room.
24. In 2008, at age 23, Zuckerberg became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire.
25. He has been Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” twice, in 2010 and 2013.
26. Zuckerberg is known for wearing the same gray Facebook t-shirt almost every day because he’s busy and it saves him time in the morning.
27. He and his wife Priscilla Chan have pledged $2.7 billion to charity through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
28. In 2021, Zuckerberg announced Facebook’s new corporate name “Meta” to build the next generation of online interaction, known as the “metaverse.”
5. Bill Gates
William Henry Gates III, commonly known as Bill Gates, was born on October 28, 1955.
He is an American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and author, best recognized for co-founding Microsoft Corporation in 1975 with Paul Allen, which became the world’s largest software company.
Gates played a pivotal role in the development of personal computing, significantly influencing the technology landscape.
Beyond Microsoft, Gates is known for his philanthropic efforts through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-chairs.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Bill Gates;
29. Gates was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, and showed an early interest in computers and programming.
30. He co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, initially developing software for the Altair 8800, the first commercially successful personal computer.
31. Gates became the youngest billionaire in history in 1987 at the age of 31, when Microsoft went public, and he held the title of the world’s wealthiest person for many years.
32. He is a significant philanthropist, having established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, which focuses on global health, poverty alleviation, and education.
33. Gates has pledged to give away the majority of his wealth through the Giving Pledge, which he co-founded with Warren Buffett in 2010.
34. He played a crucial role in the development of the Windows operating system, which became the world’s most widely used operating system for personal computers.
35. In 2008, Gates transitioned from his day-to-day role at Microsoft to focus on his philanthropic work, although he remained involved as a technology adviser until 2020.
6. Larry Ellison
Larry Ellison, born on August 17, 1944, in New York City, is an influential American businessman and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Oracle Corporation.
He served as the CEO of Oracle from its founding in 1977 until 2014 and currently holds the positions of executive chairman and chief technology officer.
Under his leadership, Oracle grew into one of the largest software companies globally, reporting revenues of $53 billion for the fiscal year ending May 2024.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Larry Ellison;
36. Ellison co-founded Oracle Corporation in 1977, which became the first company to develop a commercially viable relational database management system.
37. He was born on August 17, 1944, in New York City and was raised by his aunt and uncle in Chicago after being sent there as a baby.
38. Ellison dropped out of both the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, yet he went on to become one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, with a net worth estimated at $152 billion as of mid-2024.
39. He purchased 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lānaʻi in 2012, where he has invested in sustainable farming and wellness retreats.
40. Ellison has a passion for sailing and has participated in competitive yacht racing, even owning the Oracle Team USA, which has won multiple America’s Cup titles.
41. He signed the Giving Pledge in 2010, committing to donate at least 95% of his fortune to charitable causes during his lifetime.
42. Ellison has made significant investments in other tech companies, including Tesla and Salesforce, and briefly served on Apple’s board of directors.
7. Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett, born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska, is a prominent American businessman, investor, and philanthropist.
He is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a multinational conglomerate that has become one of the world’s most successful holding companies under his leadership.
Buffett’s investment philosophy is rooted in value investing, a strategy he learned from his mentor, Benjamin Graham, at Columbia Business School.
He began investing at a young age, purchasing his first stock at 11 and later acquiring a textile company, Berkshire Hathaway, in 1965.
Under his stewardship, the company diversified into various industries, including insurance, retail, and energy.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Warren Buffet;
43. Buffett bought his first stock at the age of 11, purchasing six shares of Cities Service Preferred for $38 each.
44. By the age of 16, he had already amassed over $53,000 through various entrepreneurial ventures, including delivering newspapers and selling golf balls and stamps.
45. Buffett has never paid for any of his approximately 20 suits, all of which were gifted to him by a designer named Madam Lee.
46. He is known for his frugality; despite being one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, he still lives in the same Omaha home he bought in 1958 for $31,500.
47. Buffett spends around 80% of his day reading, believing that knowledge compounds like interest, which contributes to his investment success.
48. He has pledged to donate 99% of his wealth to charitable causes, primarily through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill Gates.
49. Despite his immense wealth, Buffett famously prefers simple meals, often having breakfast at McDonald’s and consuming large quantities of Coca-Cola.
8. Larry Page
Larry Page, born on March 26, 1973, in Lansing, Michigan, is an influential American businessman and computer scientist, best known as the co-founder of Google alongside Sergey Brin.
He developed the PageRank algorithm, which revolutionized internet search by ranking web pages based on their link structure.
Page earned his Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Michigan and later pursued a Ph.D. at Stanford University, where he met Brin.
He served as Google’s CEO from its inception in 1998 until 2001 and again from 2011 to 2015.
He then became the CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, until he stepped down from executive roles in December 2019, retaining a significant stake as a board member and controlling shareholder.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Larry Page;
50. Page was born on March 26, 1973, in East Lansing, Michigan, to parents who were both computer science professors, which fostered his early interest in technology.
51. He co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University, initially developing a search engine called BackRub that analyzed web page links.
52. The name “Google” is derived from “googol,” a mathematical term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros, symbolizing the vast amount of information the search engine aimed to organize.
53. Page served as Google’s CEO from its founding until 2001 and returned to the role from 2011 to 2015, after which he became the CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company.
54. Under Page’s leadership, Google expanded significantly, acquiring YouTube in 2006 and launching various products like Android, Google Glass, and Google Fiber.
55. Page has a net worth estimated at $156 billion as of June 2024, making him one of the wealthiest individuals globally.
56. He is known for his visionary approach to technology, including investments in flying car startups like Kitty Hawk and a keen interest in the socio-economic impacts of advanced intelligent systems.
9. Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer, born on March 24, 1956, is an influential American businessman and investor, best known as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014.
He joined Microsoft in 1980 as the company’s 30th employee and rose through the ranks to become president in 1998, before succeeding Bill Gates as CEO.
Under his leadership, Microsoft experienced significant growth, tripling its sales and doubling profits, although it struggled to maintain market dominance in emerging technologies like smartphones.
Ballmer is also the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team and co-founded the Ballmer Group, a philanthropic investment organization.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Steve Ballmer;
57. Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as the company’s 30th employee and first business manager hired by Bill Gates.
58. He owned 8% of Microsoft when it was incorporated in 1981, which was reduced to 4% by 2003 after selling 39.3 million shares for about $955 million.
59. Ballmer was known for his energetic and passionate leadership style, which was crucial during his tenure as CEO from 2000 to 2014, a period of explosive growth for Microsoft.
60 Under Ballmer’s leadership, Microsoft’s revenue tripled, and it became the third most profitable company in the United States.
61. Despite Microsoft’s success, Ballmer missed key opportunities in mobile devices and search, with products like Windows Mobile and Bing struggling to compete with Apple’s iPhone and Google.
62. After retiring as CEO in 2014, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team for $2 billion.
63. Ballmer co-founded the Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization, and founded USAFacts, a non-profit seeking to improve government transparency, similar to how corporations disclose financial information.
10. Sergey Brin
Sergey Brin, born on August 21, 1973, in Moscow, Russia, is an influential American computer scientist and entrepreneur best known for co-founding Google with Larry Page.
Immigrating to the U.S. in 1979 to escape anti-Semitism, Brin excelled academically, earning a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree from Stanford University, where he met Page.
In 1998, Brin and Page launched Google, which revolutionized internet search through its innovative PageRank algorithm. Brin served as the President of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., until 2019.
With that said let’s have a look at some interesting facts about Sergey Brin;
64. Brin was born in Moscow, Russia, on August 21, 1973, and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six to escape anti-Semitism.
65. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Maryland and later pursued a PhD at Stanford University, where he met Larry Page.
66. Brin co-founded Google in 1998, initially developing the search engine as a research project at Stanford, which revolutionized how information is accessed online.
67. The name “Google” is derived from the mathematical term “googol,” representing the founders’ mission to organize a vast amount of information.
68. Brin is one of the richest individuals in the world, with an estimated net worth of $135 billion, ranking him as the tenth-richest person globally.
69. Brin has been actively involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly in Parkinson’s disease research, after discovering he shares a genetic mutation linked to the disease with his mother.
70. He has been recognized as one of the most powerful people in the world, being named the 35th most powerful person by Forbes in 2018 and contributing significantly to advancements in technology and artificial intelligence.
