Jeff Bezos could once again become the world’s richest man, with the Amazon founder rapidly closing in on Elon Musk’s wealth.
The 60-year-old previously held the title until September 27, 2021, when his net worth was surpassed by the eccentric South African entrepreneur.
But less than three years on and it looks as if Bezos could once again reclaim his title.
A surge in Amazon stock and a slump in Tesla’s looks set to rebalance the billionaires’ standings.
Bezos has enjoyed a $20 billion rise in his estimated wealth this year, largely due to a 13 per cent rise in Amazon’s stock, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. It has projected him into second place on the world’s rich list, with a net worth of $197 billion.
At the same time, Musk has witnessed his own personal net worth drop by $24 billion to $205 billion. The decrease can be attributed to a 24 per cent decrease in the value of Tesla’s stock.
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It means that Bezos’ net worth is now just four per cent short of Musk’s.
At the current trajectory, it may not be long until there is a change at the top of the rich list.
However, there is another serious contender who may take the top spot the next time the Billionaires Index is released. While Bloomberg’s data puts Musk in the no1 spot followed by Bezos, Forbes’ real-time billionaires list suggests that French businessman Bernard Arnault is the current richest man in the world.
Arnault is the founder, chairman and CEO of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods company, with brands such as Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co among its collection.
Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index previously suggested Arnault was the richest man in the world in April 2023. It was the first time he had claimed the crown, but his stint at the top lasted just a matter of a few short months before Musk regained the top spot.