Elon Musk sets a record: the world's richest person in history with a net worth of $726 billion

January 2026 recorded an unprecedented moment in the history of global wealth. For the first time, one individual surpassed $700 billion in personal wealth — this event symbolizes a upheaval in the planet’s economic hierarchy. Technological innovations, artificial intelligence, and space ambitions have created the perfect environment for the concentration of unprecedented capital in the hands of individual entrepreneurs.

Technological Boom and Artificial Intelligence as the Foundation of Wealth Growth

The growth of the wealthiest individuals in January 2026 is directly linked to several key factors. The exponential development of artificial intelligence and cloud technologies has led to a reevaluation of leading companies in these sectors. The space industry and the semiconductor sector also demonstrate explosive valuation increases. A significant role was played by the dominance of American tech giants in the global market, where the long-term investments of founders who maintained control over their companies finally paid off fully.

Leader’s Wealth: How Musk Surpassed Competitors

Elon Musk, with a wealth of $726 billion, holds the position of the richest person in the world in history. His wealth is fueled by the rapid reevaluation of SpaceX — a company revolutionizing space technology. The expansion of the global Starlink network, active involvement in AI development, and investments in neurotechnology complement his asset portfolio. Tesla’s stocks, despite volatility, continue to show upward momentum. No entrepreneur in modern history has achieved such a level of personal wealth through a combination of innovative projects and market reevaluation.

In second place is Larry Page, co-founder of Google and Alphabet, with a wealth of about $270 billion. His fortune has grown significantly due to Alphabet’s dominance in artificial intelligence. Third place is Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, with a capital of $255 billion, supported by the growth of the AWS cloud service and the expansion of the company’s logistics networks.

Full Top 10 List of the Wealthiest People on the Planet

1. Elon Musk — $726 billion
2. Larry Page — $270 billion
3. Jeff Bezos — $255 billion
4. Sergey Brin — $251 billion
5. Larry Ellison — $248 billion
6. Mark Zuckerberg — $233 billion
7. Bernard Arnault — $205 billion
8. Steve Ballmer — $170 billion
9. Jensen Huang — $156 billion
10. Warren Buffett — $151 billion

Other Billionaires in the Shadow of the Leader

Fourth place goes to Sergey Brin with $251 billion — also related to his stake in Google and Alphabet. Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, ranks fifth with $248 billion, benefiting from the reevaluation of his company in the context of cloud computing. Mark Zuckerberg (Meta Platforms) with $233 billion has entered the ranking, relying on the development of the metaverse and artificial intelligence within his ecosystem.

Interestingly, even traditional billionaires like Warren Buffett ($151 billion) are outside the top five, highlighting the dominance of the tech sector. Jensen Huang (NVIDIA) with $156 billion demonstrates how semiconductor manufacturing has become one of the most profitable sectors amid the AI boom.

The combined wealth of the top 10 wealthiest people in the world has increased by hundreds of billions of dollars due to the reevaluation of technological assets. This phenomenon indicates that the world’s wealthiest person in history is not only a personal success story but also a reflection of the global reformatting of the economy toward innovation and high technology.