Forbes billionaires list hits record 3,428 as combined wealth tops US$20 trillion

The total represents a gain of US$4 trillion year-on-year, up from US$16.1 trillion in 2025. The surge was attributed to booming investments in artificial intelligence, volatile financial markets, and supportive fiscal policies, which collectively pushed approximately 400 new individuals onto the list.

"It's the year of the billionaire," said Chase Peterson-Withorn, Forbes Senior Editor for Wealth. He noted that the planet added more than one billionaire per day over the past twelve months as the AI-powered stock market boom boosted fortunes "to previously unimaginable heights."

The 2026 edition is the largest since the list's inception in 1987.

Musk extends lead at the top

US entrepreneur Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, SpaceX, X and xAI, retained the top position for the second consecutive year with an estimated net worth of US$839 billion — the highest ever recorded for any individual.

Musk's fortune surged by approximately US$500 billion over the past year, driven largely by a rise in Tesla's valuation and the anticipated public listing of SpaceX, which is aiming to go public in 2026.

He is the first person ever recorded to surpass the US$800 billion threshold, and Forbes noted he is on track to potentially become the world's first trillionaire.

Larry Page, co-founder of Google, ranked second with an estimated net worth of US$257 billion, followed by fellow Google co-founder Sergey Brin at third place with US$237 billion.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos held fourth place with US$224 billion, while Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg rounded out the top five with US$222 billion.

The US$100 billion club expands

A record 20 individuals worldwide now hold 12-figure fortunes, up from 15 last year and zero in 2017. This elite cohort is collectively worth US$3.8 trillion, meaning just 0.5 per cent of the world's 3,428 billionaires control nearly a fifth of all billionaire wealth.

US President Donald Trump's estimated net worth increased by 27 per cent to US$6.5 billion, placing him 645th on the list. Forbes attributed the gain largely to cryptocurrency dealings and the dismissal of financial penalties arising from a previously filed fraud case in New York.

Newcomers and notable entrants

The 2026 ranking features 390 newcomers. Among the more prominent new entrants globally are musician and entrepreneur Dr. Dre, singer Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, tennis legend Roger Federer, and investor Kimbal Musk, brother of Elon Musk.

Also newly listed is Nicole Shanahan, a former candidate for US Vice President and ex-wife of Sergey Brin, as well as Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway.

Drop-offs and deaths

Eighty-nine individuals dropped off the list this year. Among those removed are Jared Isaacman, founder of Shift4 Payments and current head of NASA, and real estate developer Charles Cohen. An additional 39 billionaires died during the period covered by the list.

United States leads by country

The United States remained home to the largest number of billionaires at 989 — a record — including 15 of the top 20 on the list. Their combined wealth totalled US$8.4 trillion.

Mainland China followed with 539 billionaires, while India ranked third with 229.

Singapore's billionaires rise to 55

Singapore contributed 55 billionaires to this year's list, up from 49 in 2025, with a combined net worth of US$155.7 billion (approximately S$198.1 billion), compared with US$145.2 billion the previous year.

Semiconductor tycoon Jason Chang, chairman of Taiwan-based ASE Technology Holding, topped the Republic's cohort at global rank 204 with a net worth of US$14.2 billion. He moved up from sixth place among Singapore-listed billionaires following the death of paint tycoon Goh Cheng Liang in August 2025.

Li Xiting, co-founder and chairman of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics, ranked second among Singapore-listed billionaires at global position 284, with a net worth of US$11.2 billion, down from US$12.8 billion in 2025.

Philip Ng, former chief executive of Far East Organization, came third at global rank 542 with US$7.2 billion, a slight decline from US$7.4 billion in 2025.

Goh family heirs among new entrants

Apart from the death of Goh Cheng Liang, there were no other dropouts from Singapore's cohort in 2026. Five of the seven new Singapore entries were linked to the late tycoon's estate.

His grandchildren April Goh, Victoria Goh, Henrietta Goh, Charlotte Goh and Johan Lavoo each entered the list with an estimated net worth of US$1.3 billion. A sixth grandchild, Martin Lavoo, is separately listed as a billionaire in the Netherlands at global rank 2,858 with a net worth of US$1.3 billion.

April Goh, who inherited the largest stake valued at approximately US$3.4 billion, has a total estimated net worth of around US$4 billion, placing her at global rank 1,074.

A Bloomberg report in September 2025, citing sources familiar with the matter, indicated she is holding assets on behalf of two siblings who were not named.

Wee family expands its presence

The remaining two Singapore newcomers are Wee Wei Chi and Wee Wei Ling, daughters of the late banking tycoon Wee Cho Yaw, each with an estimated net worth of approximately US$1.1 billion.

Together with their siblings — UOB chief executive Wee Ee Cheong, Wee Ee Chao and Wee Ee Lim — the Wee family's combined net worth stands at approximately US$9.5 billion.

Methodology

Forbes compiled the list using stock prices and currency exchange rates as of 1 March 2026. The list ranks individuals rather than multi-generational family dynasties, though wealth held by a billionaire's spouse or children is included in some cases, primarily where that person is the founder of the fortune.