Overview
- Elon Musk ranks No. 1 for a second year at an estimated $839 billion, the highest ever recorded by Forbes, after adding roughly $497 billion over the past year.
- Forbes counts 3,428 billionaires worth a combined $20.1 trillion, up from $16.1 trillion in 2025, with the United States leading in count at 989, followed by China including Hong Kong at 610 and India at 229.
- There are 390 newcomers, including Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dr. Dre, Roger Federer and James Cameron, with Surge AI founder Edwin Chen the richest debut at $18 billion and 22-year-old Surya Midha the youngest self-made newcomer.
- A record 20 people hold fortunes of $100 billion or more, and at least 86 billionaires owe their wealth in a major way to artificial intelligence, underscoring tech’s outsized role.
- President Donald Trump’s wealth is estimated at $6.5 billion, up 27% year over year on crypto gains and a tossed New York civil fraud penalty, placing him at No. 645.