The oldest person to become a billionaire is often cited as George Joseph, founder of Mercury General Insurance, who reached billionaire status in his 90s and was still an active centenarian billionaire, though records fluctuate with time and new lists, with others like Chang Yun Chung, a shipping magnate, also achieving billionaire status well into their 90s, demonstrating wealth accumulation later in life.
George Joseph, 102, is currently the world's oldest billionaire, according to the Forbes Billionaire List 2024. 102-year-old George Joseph is currently the world's oldest billionaire, according to the Forbes Billionaire List 2024.
Elon Musk on track to become first trillionaire.
Mark Zuckerberg was 23 years old when he became a billionaire in 2008, making him the world's youngest self-made billionaire at the time, following Facebook's growth and before its 2012 IPO. He debuted on the Forbes Billionaires list that year, achieving billionaire status a year after becoming a millionaire.
Fueled by AI, prediction markets and online gambling, there are more self-made billionaires under 30 than ever before, 13 up from a previous record of 7.
The number 1 billionaire in the world is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, consistently holding the top spot with a fluctuating net worth in the hundreds of billions (around $600+ billion in early January 2026), followed closely by figures like Larry Page (Google/Alphabet) and Jeff Bezos (Amazon) as their company valuations shift, according to Forbes and Bloomberg reports.
Jeff Bezos became a millionaire at the age of 33 and a billionaire at the age of 35. #StartupStories #SS #Amazon #Billionarie #JeffBezos. Around 1000 times in two years ?
Mark Zuckerberg's "80 Percent Rule" involves scheduling only about 80% of his day, leaving 20% open for unexpected issues, high-priority tasks, or deep work, preventing burnout and increasing focus, a concept similar to Google's productivity advice. This strategy challenges the busy-ness culture, allowing flexibility and ensuring important, unplanned items get attention without derailing the entire day, helping leaders stay adaptable and effective.
See where Johannes von Baumbach, heir to Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim, falls on our 2025 #ForbesBillionaires list: https://trib.al/DIoRpYb (Illustration: Neil Jamieson for Forbes)
Elon Musk has publicly stated he has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, which he disclosed during his 2021 appearance on Saturday Night Live. He described his traits as including taking things literally, struggling with social cues, and finding reward in intense focus, suggesting it aids his work. His comments sparked conversations about autism and how individuals, particularly high-profile ones, experience it.
As of late 2024 and into 2025, Elon Musk became the first person to surpass a $400 billion net worth, primarily driven by the rising values of SpaceX and Tesla and his AI venture xAI. While fluctuations occur, he consistently ranks as the world's richest person, with figures showing his wealth significantly exceeding other billionaires like Jeff Bezos.
June 7. In a morning interview with NBC News on June 7, Trump stated that he did not wish to reconcile with Musk, and added that Musk would face 'very serious consequences' if he funded Democrats. Trump also mentioned having saved Musk's life during his first administration.
The wealthiest dynasties in the world have never been richer — and the Waltons lead the pack with a net worth of $513.4 billion.
The richest woman in the world, as of late 2025 reports, is generally Alice Walton, heiress to the Walmart fortune, with figures placing her net worth well over $100 billion, followed by Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family (L'Oréal), Julia Koch & family (Koch Industries), and Jacqueline Mars (Mars Inc.). Walton's wealth comes from her inheritance of Walmart stock, while the others' fortunes stem from major retail/consumer goods empires and industrial conglomerates.
Zuckerberg's Disclosure: A Brief Look at Asperger's Syndrome
In a 2013 interview with The New Yorker, Mark Zuckerberg revealed that he had "a mild form of autism," later clarifying that his condition aligned with Asperger's syndrome.
Eminem has filed a lawsuit against Meta, which is owned by Mark Zuckerberg, over allegations that the tech company did not get permission to use his music across many of its platforms. Meta operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
How old was Mark Zuckerberg when he became a billionaire? Mark Zuckerberg was 23 years old when he debuted on the Forbes Billionaires list in 2008, making him the youngest self-made billionaire to appear on the list.
The world's #1 richest man, as of early January 2026, is Elon Musk, with fortunes from Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures placing his net worth over $700 billion, consistently leading lists from Forbes and other financial trackers. Other top contenders include Google's co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, though Musk maintains a significant lead.
Jeff Bezos's "1-Hour Rule" is a morning routine emphasizing a slow, screen-free start to the day, allowing for "puttering" (reading, coffee, family time) to improve focus and decision-making by avoiding immediate digital distractions, which aligns with neuroscience findings on brain health and stress reduction. Instead of emails, the first hour is for intentional, calm activities to prepare the mind for high-IQ work later in the day, setting a tone for better energy and clearer thinking.
Elon Musk is widely considered the person closest to becoming the world's first trillionaire, driven by significant growth in his companies SpaceX and Tesla, with some forecasts placing him to reach this milestone as early as 2027, fueled by potential IPOs and advancements in AI. While other tech leaders like Jeff Bezos and Jensen Huang are also potential candidates, Musk's rapid wealth accumulation from companies like SpaceX, whose valuation recently surged, puts him in the lead.
A £213,000 annual income is deemed enough to be wealthy
When asked what you need to be considered wealthy, participants in the HSBC report suggested an average annual income of £213,000 was the threshold in the UK – more than six times the national average salary.
The 27.40 rule is a simple personal finance strategy for saving $10,000 in one year by setting aside $27.40 every single day, which totals $10,001 annually ($27.40 x 365). It works by making a large goal feel manageable through consistent, small daily actions, encouraging discipline, and can be automated through bank transfers, with the savings potentially growing with interest in a high-yield account.