The 20th century saw the rise of billionaires as globalization and industrialization led manufacturing business to boom and tech giants to rise. This chart of the world’s richest billionaires from Madison Trust reveals that only 12 billionaires have claimed the title “richest in the world” since 1900. These billionaires have accrued so much wealth, it’s nearly impossible for others to surpass them. So, who are these titans of industry? The infographic reveals their names, their net worth, and how many years they were the richest person in the world.
- Bernard Arnault: 2023
- Elon Musk: 2022
- Jeff Bezos: 2018-2021
- Bill Gates: 1997-2007, 2009, 2014-2017
- Carlos Slim: 2010-2013
- Warren Buffet: 2008
- Sam Walton (i.e. Walton family): 1991-1996
- Yoshiaki Tsutsumi: 1980-1990
- J.Paul Getty: 1950-1979
- Henry Ford: 1940-1949
- John D. Rockefeller: 1910-1939
- Andrew Carnegie: 1900-1909
The infographic provides other important details. For example, the value of a dollar has changed a lot from 1900 to 2023, so you can see what past billionaires were worth in today’s current currency.