The 20 Richest Men In The World According To Forbes (2025)

Hello, dear readers!

Let’s take a proper stroll into the world of wealth—serious wealth o, not small money. I’m talking about the top 20 richest men globally, as listed by Forbes in their 2025 World Billionaires ranking.

Now, why should this matter to us in Nigeria or Africa at large? Simple. Understanding where global capital is concentrated gives us a clearer picture of how power flows in today’s world—and more importantly, where we as aspiring entrepreneurs, policy analysts, and investors can draw lessons from.

So, sit back with a cold bottle of malt (or zobo if you’re watching sugar), because I’m about to break this list down for you in a way that’s both enlightening and enjoyable.

A Quick Overview: What the Forbes 2025 List Tells Us

Forbes, in April 2025, published their 39th annual World's Billionaires List, and it was wild. A record-breaking 3,028 billionaires were listed with a combined net worth of $16.1 trillion. If that number sounds abstract, just know it’s more than 6 times Nigeria’s GDP. That’s how concentrated global wealth has become.

Interestingly, the entire top 10 is dominated by Americans, with only one European squeezing into the party.

Now, let’s get into the main dish — the Top 20 Richest Men in the World in 2025. I'll walk you through not just their names and net worth, but also how they made their money, and what that says about the world we live in today.

1. Elon Musk – $342 Billion

No surprises here. Elon Musk is back at number one. The South African-born, US-based entrepreneur is the founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI. The big jump in his net worth was thanks to the massive valuation of xAI (his artificial intelligence company), and a surge in Tesla shares.

Elon Musk represents the fusion of technology and vision. Whether or not you like his antics on Twitter (or X, as he renamed it), you can’t deny his influence on electric vehicles, space tech, and AI. He’s an innovator, risk-taker, and above all, a capital magnet.

2. Mark Zuckerberg – $216 Billion

From the dorm rooms of Harvard to Metaverse mogul, Mark has come a long way. His company, Meta, which includes Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more recently, investments in generative AI, has bounced back from the dips of 2022–2023.

Zuckerberg is proof that pivoting in business is essential. He moved from being just a social media guy to focusing on virtual reality and AI, and the markets rewarded him handsomely.

3. Jeff Bezos – $215 Billion

Even after stepping down as CEO of Amazon, Bezos continues to rake in the billions. His wealth is still largely tied to Amazon shares, but let’s not forget Blue Origin, his private spaceflight company that’s slowly becoming a rival to SpaceX.

In addition to being a billionaire, Bezos is a good case study in scaling operations and reinvesting profits, two things we in Nigeria's startup ecosystem should learn more about.

4. Larry Ellison – $192 Billion

This man co-founded Oracle Corporation, a software giant. While not as flashy as Musk or Zuckerberg, Ellison's slow-and-steady approach to enterprise software, especially cloud infrastructure, has kept him relevant and filthy rich.

He’s also a big investor in Tesla and has fingers in many other pies. His story shows that B2B businesses may not trend on social media, but they print serious money.

5. Bernard Arnault & Family – $178 Billion

Here’s the only European in the top five — the Frenchman behind LVMH, which controls luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Moët, and Hennessy. Think of it this way: if rich people are having a good time, Bernard is making money.

Arnault’s continued success tells us that luxury never goes out of style, especially when marketed right. Also, it emphasizes how brand perception and emotional connection can command serious premium pricing.

6. Warren Buffett – $154 Billion

Uncle Warren, the Oracle of Omaha, is still going strong in his 90s. He owns Berkshire Hathaway, which has major holdings in companies like Coca-Cola, Apple, and American Express.

Buffett’s mantra is simple: buy undervalued companies and hold them forever. In Nigeria, where many are chasing quick returns, we can learn from his patient and value-driven investing style.

7. Larry Page – $144 Billion

One half of the Google founding duo, Larry has moved behind the scenes in recent years but remains incredibly wealthy thanks to Alphabet’s dominance in search, advertising, and AI.

Page is a classic case of the silent billionaire, focusing more on innovation and impact rather than attention.

8. Sergey Brin – $138 Billion

The other Google co-founder. Like Larry, Sergey keeps a low profile but has a huge say in the future of global tech. Google’s grip on internet infrastructure is still unmatched, and it’s showing in their stock prices.

Together, Brin and Page represent the power of foundational tech infrastructure—build once, scale forever.

9. Amancio Ortega – $124 Billion

The only Spaniard in the top 10, and the king of fast fashion. Ortega is the founder of Inditex, the parent company of Zara. His retail empire is built on affordable luxury and rapid market response.

His model of quick adaptation to fashion trends and streamlined supply chains is something our textile and fashion industry in Nigeria should study carefully.

10. Steve Ballmer – $118 Billion

Former Microsoft CEO, and now the owner of Los Angeles Clippers (NBA team). Ballmer is proof that even after leaving a company, you can continue to benefit from its success if you retain equity.

He represents the idea of sticking with your investments long enough to enjoy exponential gains.

Positions 11–20: The Rising and Consistent Giants

While Forbes didn’t spell out every name from 11–20 explicitly in their 2025 breakdown, based on valuation trends and past placements, these are the likely contenders:

11. Michael Dell – Founder of Dell Technologies, a legend in the hardware game.

12–14. Jim Walton, Rob Walton, Alice Walton – Heirs to the Walmart empire, showing that retail still builds generational wealth.

15. Michael Bloomberg – Former NYC Mayor, and the man behind Bloomberg LP, a financial media powerhouse.

16. Carlos Slim Helu – The Mexican telecom mogul who was once the richest man in the world.

17. Mukesh Ambani – India’s richest man. His company Reliance Industries spans petrochemicals, telecom, retail, and more.

18. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers (Family) – Though not a man, she's worth mentioning here as L’Oréal’s heiress and the richest woman in the world.

19. Zhang Yiming – The Chinese techpreneur behind TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.

20. Gautam Adani – Despite past controversies, the Indian industrialist remains one of the wealthiest in Asia.

Key Takeaways: What This List Really Tells Us

1. Technology is the New Oil

The bulk of these billionaires built their wealth through software, hardware, AI, e-commerce, or digital platforms. For Africa, this should be a wake-up call. Our focus must expand beyond commodities into the knowledge economy.

2. Ownership Matters

Many of these men made their money not by earning salaries, but by owning equity in businesses. As Nigerians, we should start thinking more about building and owning scalable ventures.

3. Long-Term Thinking is King

From Buffett to Ballmer, long-term investing continues to outperform short-term speculation. This is crucial in a society increasingly addicted to “get-rich-quick” schemes.

4. Diversification Wins

Musk is into cars, rockets, and AI. Bezos is into space and media. Even Ambani is juggling telecom, oil, and retail. These men don’t keep all their eggs in one basket.

5. Luxury Still Pays

Whether it’s LVMH, Zara, or L’Oréal, luxury and lifestyle brands still print money. For our own Made-in-Nigeria products, we should aim for quality branding and storytelling that commands premium pricing.

Final Words: Should We Be Inspired or Concerned?

Both.

Yes, the sheer scale of wealth among these 20 men is staggering—almost unimaginable for the average person. But at the same time, it shows us what’s possible when innovation meets execution, timing, and persistence.

In a continent like Africa, filled with raw talent, abundant resources, and youthful energy, we too can produce billionaires—not just in dollars but in impact.

Let this list challenge you to think bigger, act smarter, and dream more strategically. The future of wealth is not only in the West—it can be built right here, brick by brick.

If you enjoyed this breakdown, please share with your friends, drop a comment, or even start a discussion on how Africa can start building its own billion-dollar brands.

Stay inspired! 🚀