LVMH x F1 partnership; photo @LVMH
There’s a rare breed of wealth that’s even more exclusive than billionaires: the centibillionaires, a club whose members have each hit the 12-digit mark with fortunes amassed in tech, retail, and luxury goods. Collectively worth around $2.5 trillion, the 17 titans in this ultra-elite club wield wealth greater than entire industries and global corporations like Amazon and Alphabet. While most people would need thousands of lifetimes to reach such wealth, these individuals have built empires with the vision, timing, and sometimes plain luck to revolutionize industries. Let’s explore what makes these ultra-wealthy tick—and what they have in common.
What’s Their Secret? Key Trends and Traits of the Centibillionaires
Tech Roots Dominate
Eleven of the seventeen members have tech origins. Giants like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Tesla show how the digital revolution continues to generate monumental fortunes. Innovators in this club are rarely afraid to take risks; they jump into AI, space, or social media with gusto.
Stock is King
Every centibillionaire holds major stock positions in their companies. Whether it’s Ellison’s stake in Oracle or the Walton’s Walmart shares, holding on to stock—and even buying more—has been key to maintaining their sky-high net worths.
Philanthropy with Limits
While Gates and Buffett are huge philanthropists, many members of this club have been careful not to give away too much, too soon. Gates has pledged nearly his entire fortune, yet still ranks as one of the wealthiest—a testament to how wealth, when wisely managed, grows even when shared.
Luxury Stays Lucrative
Bernard Arnault, with his collection of luxury brands, shows that the wealthy will always spend on status symbols, especially during boom times. His empire’s resilience highlights how timeless industries can be if positioned right.
Family Matters
The Walton siblings are one of the only family groups in the club, illustrating that inherited wealth can grow when backed by a strong company. In contrast, tech founders like Musk and Bezos are more self-made, underscoring two contrasting wealth paths: family legacy vs. founder-driven.
International Influence
Though most centibillionaires are American, Ortega, Arnault, and Ambani remind us that immense wealth knows no borders. Their success stories blend local market dominance with savvy global strategy, creating truly international brands.
The Centibillionaire Club’s Future
As AI, climate tech, and even interplanetary travel enter the mainstream, the ranks of this club may swell in coming years. New tech moguls from countries like India and China may join, while legacy families like the Waltons could see younger members rise to prominence. Regardless, each centibillionaire reminds us that while wealth may look timeless, it’s often a fast-moving force shaped by relentless vision and daring moves.
Who’s in the Club? The Titans at a Glance
1. Elon Musk
Net Worth: $241 billion
Source of Wealth: Tesla, SpaceX, and X
A champion of big ideas, Musk rockets between enterprises with the speed of his own SpaceX spacecraft. His wealth is rooted in Tesla’s dominance in electric vehicles, but it’s his relentless push to colonize Mars and explore AI that keeps him firmly planted in the centibillionaire stratosphere.
2. Jeff Bezos
Net Worth: $212 billion
Source of Wealth: Amazon
The man who brought shopping to our fingertips, Bezos transformed retail forever with Amazon, amassing a fortune along the way. Since stepping down as CEO, he’s been funneling his time (and billions) into space exploration and philanthropy, but Amazon’s stock keeps his fortune sky-high.
3. Mark Zuckerberg
Net Worth: $204 billion
Source of Wealth: Meta
Starting as a college project, Facebook propelled Zuckerberg to unimaginable wealth. Now, he’s turned his sights on the future of social interaction with the “metaverse,” an ambitious (and risky) bet that has seen his wealth swing wildly over the years.
4. Larry Ellison
Net Worth: $184 billion
Source of Wealth: Oracle, Tesla investments
Ellison’s Oracle turned software into big business, but his stake in Tesla has been a massive wealth booster. Known for his flashy lifestyle and sprawling Hawaiian estate, he’s a tech icon who made cloud computing mainstream.
5. Bernard Arnault
Net Worth: $177 billion
Source of Wealth: LVMH
Europe’s richest man built his fortune one luxury brand at a time. From Louis Vuitton to Sephora, Arnault controls an empire of taste, but even the high-end consumer market has its ups and downs—as evidenced by a recent $30 billion dip.
6. Bill Gates
Net Worth: $162 billion
Source of Wealth: Microsoft
The original tech billionaire, Gates has become almost as famous for his philanthropy as for creating Microsoft. His foundation has given billions to global health causes, but his hefty stake in the tech giant keeps him comfortably in the centibillionaire zone.
7. Larry Page and 10. Sergey Brin
Net Worth: $149 billion and $140 billion, respectively
Source of Wealth: Alphabet
The Google co-founders turned a college project into a digital empire, and though they’ve stepped away from the day-to-day, the company’s continued growth keeps them among the world’s wealthiest.
8. Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $147 billion
Source of Wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
The “Oracle of Omaha” is the ultimate example of wealth built steadily over time. A noted philanthropist, Buffett has pledged to give away much of his fortune. Still, his nearly 15% stake in Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate of companies from candy to insurance, keeps his fortune growing.
9. Steve Ballmer
Net Worth: $146 billion
Source of Wealth: Microsoft
Ballmer turned a humble assistant role at Microsoft into a multi-billion-dollar stake. Known for his energetic management style, he’s now the owner of the LA Clippers, giving his wealth a sporty twist.
11. Jensen Huang
Net Worth: $125 billion
Source of Wealth: Nvidia
Huang has ridden the AI wave like no one else, co-founding Nvidia and seeing it skyrocket as AI became one of the hottest fields in tech. His meteoric rise into the centibillionaire club is a testament to AI’s transformative power.
12. Michael Dell
Net Worth: $116 billion
Source of Wealth: Dell
Starting his business out of a college dorm, Dell has not only built a computer empire but has also capitalized on AI trends that boosted the company’s stock value dramatically.
13. Amancio Ortega
Net Worth: $115 billion
Source of Wealth: Inditex
Ortega, the fashion mogul behind Zara, proves that fast fashion can make you fabulously rich. His empire now spans real estate and other investments, ensuring he remains Spain’s wealthiest man.
14. Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth: $104 billion
Source of Wealth: Reliance Industries
As Asia’s richest person, Ambani transformed Reliance from an oil company into a diverse conglomerate that includes telecommunications and retail. His presence shows that tech isn’t the only way to hit $100 billion.
15-17. Jim, Rob, and Alice Walton
Net Worth: Around $101-104 billion each
Source of Wealth: Walmart
The Walton trio inherited their wealth from Walmart founder Sam Walton and have continued to see their fortunes rise as the retailer grows globally. They’re proof that family fortunes can sometimes hold steady—or even rise—over generations.
@LVMH luxury group
