American pop sensation Taylor Swift has made her debut on the prestigious Forbes World’s Billionaires List, joining tech mogul Elon Musk among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
According to Forbes, Swift’s net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion (£877 million), marking her first appearance on the billionaire roster. Alongside her, Sam Altman, the creator of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, also secured a place on the list with a wealth of $1 billion (£800 million).
Topping the chart is Bernard Arnault and his family, the French luxury goods titan behind LVMH, with an astounding estimated wealth of $233 billion (£185 billion).
Forbes reported a record number of billionaires for 2024, totaling 2,781 individuals, which is an increase of 141 from the previous year and 26 more than the previous record set in 2021. The collective wealth of these elites is valued at $14.2 trillion (£11.3 trillion).
Swift’s entrance into the billionaire club comes on the heels of her immense success in the music industry, highlighted by her historic achievements at the Grammy Awards. Her influence extends beyond music, with her presence at American football games attributed to boosting NFL viewing figures.
The majority of the top 10 richest individuals listed by Forbes are from the United States, with six of them amassing their fortunes in the technology sector. Following Arnault and his family, Elon Musk ranks second with an estimated net worth of $195 billion (£155 billion), trailed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos in third place.
Other notable additions to Forbes’ list include basketball legend Magic Johnson and TV producer Dick Wolf, known for hit series such as “Law and Order” and “Chicago PD,” both boasting a wealth of $1.2 billion (£950 million).
Chase Peterson-Withorn, Forbes’ senior editor on wealth, described the year as “amazing” for the world’s richest individuals, noting the surge in centi-billionaires and the continued growth of billionaire wealth.
The United States remains the country with the highest number of billionaires, followed by China and India. In the UK, hedge fund manager Michael Platt leads the pack as the wealthiest individual.
However, Forbes also noted that 189 individuals fell off the billionaires list, including notable figures from China, while 32 billionaires passed away, including prominent personalities like Mohamed Al-Fayed and Silvio Berlusconi.
