How Most Billionaires Made Their Money (2024)

The World’s Richest Self-Made Women In 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The World’s Richest Self-Made Women In 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliewu/2024/04/03/the-worlds-richest-self-made-women-in-2024-taylor-swift-kim-kardashian-rihanna/","date":"Apr 3, 2024","index":1}},"id":"bpr84ip5lqgg00"},{"textContent":"

Apr 3, 2024

The Richest Billionaire In Each Country 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The Richest Billionaire In Each Country 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/annikagrosser/2024/04/03/the-richest-billionaire-in-each-country-2024/","date":"Apr 3, 2024","index":2}},"id":"5c39d8cbfg6800"},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2024: The Top 200","scope":{"story":{"title":"Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2024: The Top 200","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2024/04/02/forbes-worlds-billionaires-list-2024-the-top-200/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":3}},"id":"9k27f78fn6l800"},{"textContent":"

Apr 3, 2024

The Richest Woman In The World 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The Richest Woman In The World 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthakroontje/2024/04/03/the-richest-woman-in-the-world-2024/","date":"Apr 3, 2024","index":4}},"id":"4e9hr268n7p400"},{"textContent":"

Apr 3, 2024

The World’s Richest Person 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The World’s Richest Person 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2024/04/03/the-worlds-richest-person-2024/","date":"Apr 3, 2024","index":5}},"id":"5ab2lhqqq9mg00"},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

Forbes’ 38th Annual World’s Billionaires List: Facts And Figures 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"Forbes’ 38th Annual World’s Billionaires List: Facts And Figures 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2024/04/02/forbes-38th-annual-worlds-billionaires-list-facts-and-figures-2024/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":6}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The $100 Billion Club: These 14 People Have 12-Figure Fortunes","scope":{"story":{"title":"The $100 Billion Club: These 14 People Have 12-Figure Fortunes","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2024/04/02/the-100-billion-club-these-14-people-have-12-figure-fortunes/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":7}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

New Billionaires 2024: Taylor Swift, Magic Johnson And 263 Others Join The Ranks This Year","scope":{"story":{"title":"New Billionaires 2024: Taylor Swift, Magic Johnson And 263 Others Join The Ranks This Year","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/segunolakoyenikan/2024/04/02/new-billionaires-2024-taylor-swift-magic-johnson-and-263-others-join-the-ranks-this-year/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":8}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

Here’s Who Fell Off Forbes’ 2024 Billionaires List","scope":{"story":{"title":"Here’s Who Fell Off Forbes’ 2024 Billionaires List","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardjchang/2024/04/02/heres-who-fell-off-forbes-2024-billionaires-list/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":9}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The 10 Biggest Billionaire Gainers 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The 10 Biggest Billionaire Gainers 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/hyunsoorim/2024/04/02/the-10-biggest-billionaire-gainers-2024/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":10}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

Tech Billionaires Have Added An Astonishing $750 Billion To Their Fortunes Over The Past Year","scope":{"story":{"title":"Tech Billionaires Have Added An Astonishing $750 Billion To Their Fortunes Over The Past Year","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/phoebeliu/2024/04/02/tech-billionaires-have-added-an-astonishing-750-billion-to-their-fortunes-over-the-past-year/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":11}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The Billionaires Getting Rich From AI 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The Billionaires Getting Rich From AI 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/phoebeliu/2024/04/02/the-billionaires-getting-rich-from-ai-2024/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":12}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The Richest Women In The World 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The Richest Women In The World 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthakroontje/2024/04/02/the-richest-women-in-the-world-francoise_bettencourt-meyers-taylor-swift-alice-walton-2024/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":13}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The Countries With The Most Billionaires 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The Countries With The Most Billionaires 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/devinseanmartin/2024/04/02/the-countries-with-the-most-billionaires-2024/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":14}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

Indian Billionaires Soar To Record Highs","scope":{"story":{"title":"Indian Billionaires Soar To Record Highs","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/naazneenkarmali/2024/04/02/indian-billionaires-soar-to-record-highs/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":15}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The Richest Crypto And Bitcoin Billionaires In The World 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The Richest Crypto And Bitcoin Billionaires In The World 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhyatt/2024/04/02/the-richest-crypto-and-bitcoin-billionaires-in-the-world-2024/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":16}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The World’s Celebrity Billionaires 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The World’s Celebrity Billionaires 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/devinseanmartin/2024/04/02/the-worlds-celebrity-billionaires-2024-taylor-swift-kim-kardashian-oprah/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":17}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

The 10 Richest Chinese Billionaires 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The 10 Richest Chinese Billionaires 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2024/04/02/the-10-richest-chinese-billionaires-2024/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":18}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 1, 2024

The World’s Youngest Billionaires 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The World’s Youngest Billionaires 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicahunter-hart/2024/03/31/worlds-youngest-billionaires-2024-john-collison-ben-francis-evan-spiegel/","date":"Apr 1, 2024","index":19}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 1, 2024

Meet The Billionaire Bond Investor Behind Chelsea F.C., Springsteen’s Songbook And The LA Dodgers","scope":{"story":{"title":"Meet The Billionaire Bond Investor Behind Chelsea F.C., Springsteen’s Songbook And The LA Dodgers","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/maneetahuja/2024/04/01/meet-the-billionaire-bond-investor-behind-chelsea-fc-springsteens-songbook-and-the-la-dodgers/","date":"Apr 1, 2024","index":20}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 1, 2024

Shoe Designer Christian Louboutin Is Now A Billionaire","scope":{"story":{"title":"Shoe Designer Christian Louboutin Is Now A Billionaire","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2024/04/01/christian-louboutin-net-worth-billionaire-shoe-designer/","date":"Apr 1, 2024","index":21}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 2, 2024

Trump’s Net Worth 2024: Which Assets Are Up, Which Are Down","scope":{"story":{"title":"Trump’s Net Worth 2024: Which Assets Are Up, Which Are Down","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2024/04/02/trumps-net-worth-2024-which-assets-are-up-which-are-down/","date":"Apr 2, 2024","index":22}}},{"textContent":"

Apr 4, 2024

The 10 Richest People In Latin America 2024","scope":{"story":{"title":"The 10 Richest People In Latin America 2024","uri":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/gigizamora/2024/04/04/the-10-richest-people-in-latin-america-2024/","date":"Apr 4, 2024","index":23}}}],"breakpoints":[{"breakpoint":"@media all and (max-width: 768px)","config":{"inView":2,"slidesToScroll":1}},{"breakpoint":"@media all and (min-width: 1681px)","config":{"inView":5,"slidesToScroll":1}}]};

How Most Billionaires Made Their Money (2024)

FAQs

How do most billionaires make their money? ›

In fact, nearly one in six billionaires, or just over 15%, made their money in finance and investments: these 427 individuals hail from countries as mixed as Estonia, Kazakhstan, Japan and the U.S. That's up from the 372 names a year ago and includes 37 newcomers including Ben Navarro, founder of Sherman Financial ...

Are most billionaires self-made? ›

As of 2022, a majority of the world's billionaires had earned their wealth themselves. Nearly 2,000 of the total 3,194 billionaires worldwide that year had earned their fortune this way.

How did most self made millionaires get rich? ›

No matter the percentage that separates the two groups, one differentiator sets them apart more than all the rest: how they grew their fortunes. Self-made millionaires tended to rely on capital appreciation from investments — as well as salary, stock options and profit-sharing.

Are there any billionaires who grew up poor? ›

America has long been seen as the land of opportunity. After all, there have been plenty of rags-to-riches stories in U.S. history. Take Oprah Winfrey, for example. She's just one of the many billionaires who grew up poor.

What is the most common job for billionaires? ›

Finance and investments remains the surest way to get ultra-rich. It's the industry with the highest number of billionaires, 372, including hedge fund and private equity tycoons, bankers, venture capitalists and fintech founders.

What is the secret of billionaires? ›

Being a billionaire takes an extreme work ethic and for many, quite a bit of patience. Billionaires are always learning and if you have the chance to ask them, they will almost always say they are the student, not the teacher. The most common traits among billionaires are work ethic and refusing to give up.

How do billionaires avoid taxes? ›

Billionaires (usually) don't sell valuable stock. So how do they afford the daily expenses of life, whether it's a new pleasure boat or a social media company? They borrow against their stock. This revolving door of credit allows them to buy what they want without incurring a capital gains tax.

How is most wealth created? ›

The wealthiest people earned their coveted places by investing in risky assets like their private businesses and then multiplying the returns, regardless of whether or not they had initial wealth from rich parents.

What major produces the most billionaires? ›

KEY FACT: Engineering is the most common degree among billionaires. 22% of the world's top 100 billionaires studied engineering. Ever thought about which engineering can make you a billionaire?

What creates 90% of millionaires? ›

Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.

What do 90% of all millionaires become so through owning? ›

Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owing real estate.

What are the three things millionaires do not do? ›

The 10 things that millionaires typically avoid spending their money on include credit card debt, lottery tickets, expensive cars, impulse purchases, late fees, designer clothes, groceries and household items, luxury housing, entertainment and leisure, and low-interest savings accounts.

Who lives longer rich or poor? ›

Researchers have long known that the rich live longer than the poor. Evidence now suggests that the life expectancy gap is increasing, at least here the United States, which raises troubling questions about the fairness of current efforts to protect Social Security.

Who is the youngest billionaire? ›

Clemente Del Vecchio

Clemente was at one time the world's youngest billionaire (at the age of 18), but he has since aged out of that title, which is now held by Livia Voigt.

Who is the richest poor person? ›

One such person is Bharat Jain, who is recognized as the world's richest beggar, with a net worth of ₹7.5 crore ($1 million). Jain, who is 54 years old, lives in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. He has been begging for over 40 years, since he was a teenager.

What are billionaires investing in? ›

They uncovered that billionaire investors have been buying Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX).

How many billionaires are under 30? ›

The 25 youngest people on the Forbes' World's Youngest Billionaires of 2024 list are all 33 or younger and worth $110 billion together. Some are self-made, but for the first time in more than 15 years, every billionaire under 30 inherited their fortune. We've highlighted the 14 billionaires under the age of 30 here.

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