In the latest ranking of the world’s wealthiest individuals, notable shifts have occurred among the top billionaires as of January 2026. While six of the top ten billionaires experienced a decline in their fortunes, one individual, Elon Musk, stands out with a remarkable increase in net worth.
Elon Musk, chairman of Tesla and SpaceX, has retained his position as the world’s wealthiest person, with his net worth rising to an impressive $726 billion as of January 1, according to a report by Forbes. This increase marks a surge of approximately $244 billion in just a month, and he remains on track to potentially become the world’s first trillionaire, having gained over $333 billion throughout 2025.
Following Musk is Google co-founder Larry Page, whose net worth climbed to $263.8 billion, making him the second-richest individual. Previously second-ranked Larry Ellison has now slipped to fifth place with a net worth of $241.5 billion. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos of Amazon stands at third with $251.9 billion, and Sergey Brin, also from Google, is fourth with $243.4 billion.
Interestingly, Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, has dropped out of the top ten, falling to the twelfth position, paving the way for former Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to take the tenth spot. Ballmer’s net worth now sits at $147.2 billion.
Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang has risen to the eighth position with a net worth of approximately $164.1 billion, benefitting from a 5% increase in his company’s stock value. Amancio Ortega, co-founder of Zara, made a significant entry into the top ten, landing in ninth place with an estimated net worth of $147.3 billion.
Bill Gates, who was once a staple in the billionaire rankings, exited the top ten in October 2024 following a marked reduction in his net worth.
Here is the list of the top ten richest people in the world as of January 8, 2026:
1. Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX) – $726 billion
2. Larry Page (Google) – $263.8 billion
3. Jeff Bezos (Amazon) – $251.9 billion
4. Sergey Brin (Google) – $243.4 billion
5. Larry Ellison (Oracle) – $241.5 billion
6. Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) – $222.4 billion
7. Bernard Arnault (LVMH) – $189.4 billion
8. Jensen Huang (Nvidia) – $164.1 billion
9. Amancio Ortega (Zara) – $147.3 billion
10. Steve Ballmer (Microsoft) – $147.2 billion
The fluctuating stock market continues to play a significant role in shaping the wealth of these billionaires, reflecting the volatility and dynamic nature of the economy. Despite the setbacks faced by many of the top ten, the overall rise of prominent figures like Musk and Page showcases resilience and potential for recovery in the markets.