Tag: Forbes

The World’s Billionaires: How They Built Their Wealth

Posted on by scott.hodges

The world’s billionaires are wealthier than ever, according to Forbes’ latest ranking. The 39th edition of the list features a record-breaking 3,028 billionaires, with their total net worth surging by $2 trillion to reach $16.1 trillion.

“It’s a great time to be a billionaire,” said Forbes senior editor Chase Peterson-Withorn, highlighting the immense gains of the ultra-wealthy.

How Forbes compiles the list

Forbes’ annual billionaire list is the result of extensive research by over 100 reporters worldwide. They analyze public company shares, assess private enterprise valuations, track investments, and even consider luxury assets like art and yachts. Some billionaires offer direct insight into their wealth while others keep their financial details private, requiring reporters to rely on legal filings and insider sources to build an accurate estimate.

Who tops the list and how?

With 902 billionaires, The U.S. tops the list, followed by China, Hong Kong, and India.

A closer look at the top 25 billionaires in 2025 reveals that technology continues to be the most lucrative industry for the ultra-wealthy, followed by retail and finance:

  • Technology (9 out of 25, or 36%): Notable names include Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Larry Ellison (Oracle), Larry Page & Sergey Brin (Google), and Jensen Huang (Nvidia).
  • Fashion & Retail (6 out of 25, or 24%): Bernard Arnault (LVMH), Amancio Ortega (Zara), and the Walton family (Walmart) dominate this sector.
  • Finance & Investments (4 out of 25, or 16%): Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway), Michael Bloomberg (Bloomberg LP), and Changpeng Zhao (Binance) represent the financial giants.
  • Diversified (3 out of 25, or 12%): Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries), Julia Koch, and Charles Koch (Koch Industries).
  • Automotive (4%): Elon Musk leads this sector with Tesla.
  • Telecom (4%): Carlos Slim Helu & family dominate through América Móvil.

Changing Public Perception

Public sentiment toward billionaires has shifted, with increased scrutiny on their influence in politics and business. Several billionaires, including Elon Musk, are now involved in the second Trump administration, fueling debates about wealth and power.

As fortunes continue to rise, so does billionaire influence. The question remains: how will the public and policymakers respond? One thing is clear—the world’s wealthiest individuals are more powerful than ever.

Bolstering America’s Economy Through Technology

Posted on by scott.hodges
Technology is good for the economy

Technology is good for so many aspects of society.  One of them is preservation and growth of an economy.  In a new book written by MIT economists Jonathan Gruber and Simon Johnson entitled, ‘Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream, the two make the case for the benefits of investing in bolstering technology into the economy.

They argue that as well as strengthening growth, supplementing investment in science results in better job opportunities and higher wages.  This is especially useful now when so many Americans believe their salaries are not conducive to their everyday expenses.  Johnson said:

“Good jobs are for MIT graduates, but they’re also for people who don’t finish college. They’re for people who drop out of high school. There’s a tremendous amount of anxiety across the country.”

According to Bloomberg’s US State Innovation Index, California is America’s “most innovative economy” based on the following factors:

  1. STEM jobs
  2. R&D
  3. Firms in technology
  4. Productivity
  5. Individuals who have science/engineering degrees.

Perhaps therefore not surprisingly – supporting Johnson and Gruber’s theory – a CNBC article found that California accounted for almost ¾ of non-farm jobs created in America in February; an additional 14,600 (nonfarm) jobs were added by the state last  month; a report found that nonfarm payrolls in America increased by 20,000 jobs. Furthermore, Forbes contributor Mike Montgomery found that “technology can help prevent future California wildfires.” So there really is a lot to be said in favor of the benefits of technology for a state (and country’s) economic welfare.