The 2024 Bloomberg Billionaires Index reveals that out of 500 wealthy people around the world who made the list, 190 American citizens made it onto the global list, translating to 38% of the top 500 billionaires in the world are in the United States.
Within ultra-rich elite group, the top 100 billionaires in the U.S. stand out not just for their staggering net worth but also for the industries that have propelled them to the pinnacle of financial success.
From groundbreaking technology to enduring retail empires, here are the 100 wealthiest in the U.S:
| Name | Net Worth | Industry |
| 1) Elon Musk | $442B | Technology |
| 2) Jeff Bezos | $248B | Technology |
| 3) Mark Zuckerberg | $223B | Technology |
| 4) Larry Ellison | $195B | Technology |
| 5) Larry Page | $171B | Technology |
| 6) Bill Gates | $165B | Technology |
| 7) Sergey Brin | $161B | Technology |
| 8) Steve Ballmer | $156B | Technology |
| 9) Warren Buffett | $143B | Diversified |
| 10) Jensen Huang | $120B | Technology |
| 11) Jim Walton | $117B | Retail |
| 12) Michael Dell | $115B | Technology |
| 13) Rob Walton | $114B | Retail |
| 14) Alice Walton | $113B | Retail |
| 15) Julia Flesher Koch & family | $75.9B | Industrial |
| 16) Charles Koch | $68.2B | Industrial |
| 17) Stephen Schwarzman | $57.6B | Finanace |
| 18) Thomas Peterffy | $54.2B | Finanace |
| 19) Jeff Yass | $46.5B | Finance |
| 20) Jacqueline Badger Mars | $45.2B | Food & Beverage |
| 21) John Mars | $45.2B | Food & Beverage |
| 22) Abigail Johnson | $43.7B | Finance |
| 23) Ken Griffin | $42.4B | Finance |
| 24) MacKenzie Scott | $41.5B | Technology |
| 25) Len Blavatnik | $40.5B | Diversified |
| 26) Lukas Walton | $40.2B | Retail |
| 27) Miriam Adelson | $38.6B | Entertainment |
| 28) Eric Schmidt | $36.9B | Technology |
| 29) Phil Knight & family | $35.4B | Consumer |
| 30) Dustin Moskovitz | $30.4B | Technology |
| 31) Thomas Frist | $28.7B | Heathcare |
| 32) Dan Gilbert | $28.0B | Real estate |
| 33) Elaine Marshall | $25.8B | Industrial |
| 34) Lyndal Stephens Greth | $24.6B | Energy |
| 35) John Menard | $24.5B | Retail |
| 36) Philip Anschutz | $21.4B | Diversified |
| 37) David Tepper | $21.4B | Finance |
| 38) George Roberts | $21.0B | Finanace |
| 39) Stan Kroenke | $20.7B | Real estate |
| 40) Henry Kravis | $19.9B | Finance |
| 41) Donald Newhouse | $19.7B | Media and Telcom |
| 42) Henry Samueli | $19.2B | Technology |
| 43) Jeffery Hildebrand | $18.6B | Energy |
| 44) Christy Walton | $18.2B | Retail |
| 45) Ernie Garcia | $18.1B | Consumer |
| 46) Jan Koum | $18.0B | Technology |
| 47) Donald Bren | $17.4B | Real estate |
| 48) Dave Duffield | $17.1B | Technology |
| 49) Leonard Lauder | $16.4B | Consumer |
| 50) Ray Dalio | $16.2B | Finance |
| 51) Jim Goodnight | $16.1B | Technology |
| 52) Robert Pera | $16.1B | Technology |
| 53) Peter Thiel | $16.0B | Finance |
| 54) Rick Cohen | $15.9B | Consumer |
| 55) Jerry Jones | $15.7B | Entertainment |
| 56) Melinda French Gates | $15.4B | Diversified |
| 57) Leon Black | $15.4B | Finance |
| 58) Tilman Fertitta | $15.2B | Entertainment |
| 59) Charles Butt & family | $15.2B | Retail |
| 60) Micky Arison | $15.2B | Entertainment |
| 61) Leo Koguan | $15.0B | Technology |
| 62) Diane Hendricks | $14.9B | Services |
| 63) Tom Gores | $14.9B | Finance |
| 64) George Kaiser | $14.9B | Energy |
| 65) Steve Cohen | $14.8B | Finance |
| 66) David Sun | $14.8B | Technology |
| 67) John Tu | $14.8B | Technology |
| 68) Andy Beal | $14.4B | Finance |
| 69) Charles Schwab | $14.3B | Finance |
| 70) Ned Johnson IV | $14.1B | Finance |
| 71) Elizabeth Johnson | $14.1B | Finance |
| 72) Brian Armstrong | $13.5B | Technology |
| 73) Nancy Laurie | $13.5B | Retail |
| 74) Izzy Englander | $13.5B | Finance |
| 75) Bob Duggan | $13.4B | Healthcare |
| 76) Tony Ressler | $13.1B | Finance |
| 77) Richard Kinder | $13.1B | Energy |
| 78) Josh Harris | $13.1B | Finance |
| 79) Mark Walter | $13.0B | Finance |
| 80) Stephen Ross | $12.8B | Real estate |
| 81) Harold Hamm | $12.8B | Energy |
| 82) Les Wexner | $12.8B | Retail |
| 83) Carl Cook | $12.7B | Healthcare |
| 84) Pierre Omidyar | $12.5B | Technology |
| 85) Terry Pegula | $12.5B | Energy |
| 86) Jay Chaudhry | $12.5B | Technology |
| 87) Laurene Powell Jobs | $12.3B | Media and telcom |
| 88) Dan Friedkin | $12.3B | Retail |
| 89) Ralph Lauren | $12.3B | Consumer |
| 90) Marc Benioff | $12.3B | Technology |
| 91) Ann Kroenke | $12.2B | Retail |
| 92) Adam Foroughi | $12.2B | Technology |
| 93) Rupert Murdoch | $12.0B | Media and telcom |
| 94) Patrick Ryan | $11.9B | Services |
| 95) Steven Rales | $11.6B | Industrial |
| 96) Marc Rowan | $11.5B | Finance |
| 97) John Albert Sobrato | $11.4B | Real estate97 |
| 98) Marijke Mars | $11.3B | Food & Beverage |
| 99) Victoria Mars | $11.3B | Food & Beverage |
| 100) Pamela Mars-Wright | $11.3B | Food & Beverage |
Technology Sector Dominates The List
Unsurprisingly, the technology sector dominates the upper echelons of the billionaire rankings. Elon Musk leads the pack with a net worth of $442 billion, thanks to his stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, and other groundbreaking ventures that have reshaped industries.
Jeff Bezos, with a fortune of $248 billion, owes much of his wealth to Amazon and clouding hosting, while Mark Zuckerberg’s $223 billion net worth reflects the global influence of Meta (formerly Facebook). Other tech giants in the top tier include Larry Ellison ($195 billion), Larry Page ($171 billion), and Bill Gates ($165 billion), according to the updated Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index as of December 13, 2024.
This dominance of technology billionaires underscores the sector’s role as a driver of innovation and economic growth. From software development to artificial intelligence (AI), these leaders have not only built companies but also shaped the future of industries worldwide and are most likely to create more business opportunities in generative AI in the years ahead.
Retail Giants and Family Dynasties
The retail sector also boasts a significant presence among America’s wealthiest. Jim Walton ($117 billion), Rob Walton ($114 billion), and Alice Walton ($113 billion) owe their fortunes to Walmart, the world’s largest retailer.
Lukas Walton ($40.2 billion), another member of the family, represents the enduring legacy of the Walton empire. These fortunes highlight how retail, both traditional and e-commerce, continues to be a cornerstone of wealth in the U.S.
Diversified Fortunes and Finance Moguls
Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” has a net worth of $143 billion, making him one of the most prominent figures in diversified investments.
In finance, Stephen Schwarzman ($57.6 billion), Ken Griffin ($42.4 billion), and Abigail Johnson ($43.7 billion) exemplify how financial services and investment management remain lucrative avenues for wealth accumulation. Their success stories reflect decades of strategic decision-making and an ability to navigate complex markets.
The Power of Industry and Energy
The Koch family represents the industrial sector, with Julia Flesher Koch and Charles Koch commanding fortunes of $75.9 billion and $68.2 billion, respectively. In the energy sector, Lyndal Stephens Greth ($24.6 billion) and Harold Hamm ($12.8 billion) demonstrate how fossil fuels and related industries still play a pivotal role in American wealth.
Entertainment, Media, and Beyond
Beyond traditional industries, entertainment and media have minted billionaires such as Jerry Jones ($15.7 billion) and Rupert Murdoch ($12 billion). Meanwhile, the food and beverage sector is represented by the Mars family, with Jacqueline Badger Mars and John Mars each holding $45.2 billion.
A Diverse Path to Wealth
While technology and retail dominate, the diversity of industries represented in the Bloomberg’s top 100 billionaires in the United States underscores the multifaceted nature of wealth generation. From healthcare to real estate, these individuals showcase the myriad opportunities available in the American economy.
For instance, Thomas Frist ($28.7 billion) in healthcare and Stan Kroenke ($20.7 billion) in real estate highlight the range of sectors contributing to the nation’s billionaire count.
The Human Element Behind the Wealth
While their financial achievements are often the focus, these billionaires also influence society through philanthropy, innovation, and leadership. Bill Gates and MacKenzie Scott, for example, have channeled significant portions of their wealth into philanthropic endeavors, addressing issues like global health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Elon Musk has equally turned X, formerly Twitter, into a job-place for millions of content creators around the world. The once microblogging platform has technically turned into a full-blown Content Management System (CMS), where content creators can work from home and earn a living from X’s revenue-sharing formular.
Conclusion
The 2024 Bloomberg Billionaires Index offers a fascinating glimpse into the wealth creators and entrepreneurs shaping the U.S. economy and, by extension, the global financial landscape.