Finance and investing
The financial industry remains one of the most effective occupations to earn billions of dollars. It is the financial industry where 15% of the Forbes list participants, or 427 people, made their capital. The number of billionaires in finance and investing increased by 55 from a year ago. Their overall wealth expanded to $2.17 trillion. The richest person in this field is still outstanding American investor Warren Buffett, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Berkshire Hathaway holding company. His capital is estimated at $133 billion.
High technology
The technology industry has the second highest number of billionaires. In 2024, the number of tycoons who made their fortunes in this sector increased by 29 people, to 342, representing 12% of the latest Forbes list. Interestingly, the total capital of high-tech billionaires grew to $2.6 trillion, which is $430 billion more than in the financial sector. At the top of the list in this sector is American entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, founder of the online e-commerce giant Amazon. His fortune equals $194 billion.
Manufacturing
Industrial manufacturing ranks third among industries with the most billionaires. This year, the sector is represented by 328 tycoons, which is 49 people more than last year. They account for 12% of the entire Forbes list. The richest representative in the industrial sector is German entrepreneur Reinhold Wuerth, who heads the Wuerth Group, which produces fasteners and screws. His personal net worth is estimated at $33.6 billion.
Fashion and retail
This industry ranks fourth in terms of the number of billionaires. This year it is represented by 285 tycoons, which is 10% of the total Forbes list. The richest person in this industry is French businessman Bernard Arnault. He is the Chairman and CEO of LVMH, the world's largest luxury-goods business empire. His net worth totals an astonishing $233 billion, making him the richest person on the planet.
Food industry
The fifth-lucrative industry in terms of billionaires is the food industry, which currently has 210 tycoons, representing approximately 8% of the Forbes list. The richest person in this industry is Chinese entrepreneur Zhong Shanshan. He is at the helm of the company he founded, Nongfu Spring. It is the largest producer of bottled water in China. His fortune is estimated at more than $62 billion.