Taylor Swift has ascended to the ranks of the world's wealthiest individuals, marking her debut on the billionaire list alongside luminaries such as Elon Musk. This revelation comes courtesy of a
freshly minted affluent inventory.
The renowned American pop sensation now graces the prestigious Forbes World's Billionaires List with a staggering net worth of $1.1 billion (£877 million). Notably, she shares this distinction with Sam Altman, the mind behind the AI chatbot ChatGPT, who also clocks in at an impressive $1 billion (£800 million).
Topping this elite roster is Bernard Arnault, the titan of French luxury goods, and his family, boasting a colossal fortune estimated at $233 billion (£185 billion).
Forbes has documented an unprecedented surge in billionaire numbers for the year 2024, with a record-breaking tally of 2,781 individuals. This figure surpasses last year's count by 141 and eclipses the previous pinnacle set in 2021 by an additional 26. Moreover, Forbes underscores that these elites are enjoying unprecedented prosperity, with their collective wealth soaring to a staggering $14.2 trillion (£11.3 trillion).
Taylor Swift's meteoric rise to billionaire status is emblematic of her monumental success in the music industry. Notably, her dominance was spotlighted at this year's Grammy Awards, where she clinched the album of the year award for an unprecedented fourth time. Additionally, her album "1989 (Taylor's Version)" emerged as the best-selling vinyl LP of the preceding year.
Swift's influence extends beyond music, as her mere presence at American football games alongside her boyfriend Travis Kelce has been credited with boosting NFL viewership.
A glance at the top 10 wealthiest individuals worldwide reveals a strong American presence, with eight of them hailing from the US, six of whom amassed their fortunes in the technology sector.
Following Bernard Arnault, Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), claims the second spot with an estimated net worth of $195 billion (£155 billion). He is trailed closely by Jeff Bezos, the proprietor of Amazon.
The ranks of Forbes's billionaire cohort welcome newcomers such as basketball legend Magic Johnson, boasting a wealth of $1.2 billion (£950 million), and TV producer Dick Wolf, renowned for his contributions to hit series like "Law and Order" and "Chicago PD," who also clocks in at $1.2 billion.
Reflecting on this extraordinary year for the world's wealthiest, Chase Peterson-Withorn, senior editor on wealth for Forbes, describes it as "amazing." He notes the emergence of a record-breaking 14 centi-billionaires, each commanding 12-figure fortunes. Even amidst financial uncertainty for many, the super-rich continue to thrive.
Forbes sheds light on the staggering growth of the "$100 billion Club," whose members are now 255% richer than a decade ago, collectively amassing a total worth of $2 trillion (£1.59 trillion). Remarkably, just 0.5% of the world's 2,781 billionaires hold 14% of all billionaire wealth.
Geographically, the US maintains its supremacy as the epicenter of billionaire wealth, boasting a record 813 individuals on the list.China follows closely behind, trailed by India.
In the UK, hedge fund manager Michael Platt reigns as the wealthiest individual, followed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, part-owner of Manchester United, and inventor Sir James Dyson.
However, amidst this surge in billionaire numbers, Forbes notes the downfall of 189 individuals, including 129 from mainland China, where weakened consumer spending and a collapse in the real estate market have eroded billions from portfolios.
Furthermore, 32 billionaires have passed away, including prominent figures such as Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, and renowned musician Jimmy Buffett. Photo by Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia commons.