The richest people in the world in October 2026, according to Forbes, are Elon Musk ($936 billion), Jeff Bezos ($370 billion), Larry Page ($286 billion), Michael Dell ($268 billion) and Sergey Brin ($263 billion). The top 12 also include Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Larry Ellison, Steve Ballmer, Warren Buffett, Amancio Ortega and Alice Walton.
The ranking below uses Forbes figures as of 1 October 2026. Net worth for billionaires moves daily with share prices, so these numbers are a snapshot. Most of the people on the list made their money in technology, and the rise of artificial intelligence has pushed several of them sharply higher in the last two years.
- Top 12 richest people in the world: quick list
- 1. Elon Musk
- 2. Jeff Bezos
- 3. Larry Page
- 4. Michael Dell
- 5. Sergey Brin
- 6. Mark Zuckerberg
- 7. Jensen Huang
- 8. Larry Ellison
- 9. Steve Ballmer
- 10. Warren Buffett
- 11. Amancio Ortega
- Richest woman: Alice Walton (15th)
- Where do Indian billionaires stand?
- How the list has changed
- Frequently asked questions
Top 12 richest people in the world: quick list
| Rank | Name | Net worth (USD) | Main source of wealth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | $936 billion | SpaceX, Tesla |
| 2 | Jeff Bezos | $370 billion | Amazon |
| 3 | Larry Page | $286 billion | |
| 4 | Michael Dell | $268 billion | Dell Technologies |
| 5 | Sergey Brin | $263 billion | |
| 6 | Mark Zuckerberg | $251 billion | Meta |
| 7 | Jensen Huang | $200 billion | Nvidia |
| 8 | Larry Ellison | $179 billion | Oracle |
| 9 | Steve Ballmer | $161 billion | Microsoft |
| 10 | Warren Buffett | $142 billion | Berkshire Hathaway |
| 11 | Amancio Ortega | About $141.8 billion | Zara (Inditex) |
| 15 | Alice Walton | About $115 billion | Walmart |
Source: Forbes, figures as of 1 October 2026. Ranks 12 to 14 were not published in the same report, so we have listed Alice Walton, the richest woman, at her published rank.
Also read“Bihar Se Ho Kya?” 10 Stereotypes Every Bihari Faces in India
1. Elon Musk
Musk heads Tesla, the electric car maker, and SpaceX, the rocket and satellite internet company behind Starlink. Much of his wealth comes from his stakes in these two firms, and SpaceX’s rising private valuation has added hugely to his fortune. He has been the world’s richest person through most of 2025 and 2026.
2. Jeff Bezos
Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore from his garage. He stepped down as chief executive in 2021 and is now executive chairman. He also owns the space company Blue Origin and The Washington Post.
3. Larry Page
Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998 while both were PhD students at Stanford. He served as chief executive of Google and later of parent company Alphabet. Alphabet’s progress in AI has lifted his net worth sharply in 2026.
4. Michael Dell
Dell started selling computers from his university dorm room in 1984. Dell Technologies is now a major supplier of servers used in AI data centres, and demand for that hardware has pushed him into the top five.
5. Sergey Brin
Brin co-founded Google and is still one of Alphabet’s largest shareholders. He returned to working at Google in recent years, focusing on its AI projects.
6. Mark Zuckerberg
Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm in 2004. His company, now called Meta, also owns Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta is spending heavily on AI models and data centres.
7. Jensen Huang
Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has led it since. Nvidia’s chips power most of the world’s AI systems, which has made it one of the most valuable companies on earth and made Huang one of the biggest gainers among billionaires.
8. Larry Ellison
Ellison co-founded the software company Oracle in 1977 and is its chairman and chief technology officer. Oracle’s cloud deals with AI companies drove large swings in his wealth in 2025 and 2026.
9. Steve Ballmer
Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as an early employee and was its chief executive from 2000 to 2014. Most of his wealth comes from his Microsoft shares. He also owns the NBA basketball team LA Clippers.
10. Warren Buffett
Buffett built Berkshire Hathaway into one of the world’s largest companies through decades of careful investing. He handed over the chief executive role to Greg Abel at the start of 2026 and remains chairman. He has pledged to give away almost all of his fortune.
11. Amancio Ortega
The Spanish businessman co-founded Inditex, the parent company of fashion brand Zara. According to Forbes, he swapped places with Buffett around the 10th spot in recent months.
Richest woman: Alice Walton (15th)
Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is the richest woman in the world per Forbes, with about $115 billion. She is known for her work in art, including founding the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Where do Indian billionaires stand?
No Indian is in the global top 12 as of October 2026. On the Forbes India Rich List 2025, published in October 2025, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries ranked first in India with $105 billion, followed by Gautam Adani and family at $92 billion, Savitri Jindal at $40.2 billion, Sunil Mittal and family at $34.2 billion, and Shiv Nadar at $33.2 billion.
Read more profiles of business leaders in our People section, and money news in our Finance section.
How the list has changed
The Forbes World’s Billionaires list for 2026, released in March, counted a record 3,428 billionaires worth a combined $20.1 trillion. Bernard Arnault of LVMH, who was seventh in March 2026, was outside the top 10 by October as luxury stocks lagged and technology shares rose. Bill Gates, once the world’s richest man, is no longer near the top, partly because he has given away a large part of his wealth.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the richest person in the world in 2026?
Elon Musk is the richest person in the world, with a net worth of about $936 billion as of 1 October 2026, according to Forbes.
Who is the richest Indian in 2026?
Mukesh Ambani is India’s richest person. Forbes India’s 2025 rich list put his net worth at $105 billion, ahead of Gautam Adani.
Who is the richest woman in the world?
Alice Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, is the richest woman, with about $115 billion as of October 2026 per Forbes.
How many billionaires are there in the world?
Forbes counted 3,428 billionaires in its 2026 list, up from 3,028 in 2025.
Sources: Forbes Australia (October 2026), Wikipedia: The World’s Billionaires, Storyboard18 on the Forbes India Rich List 2025.
