New Delhi: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who once dominated the list of the world’s richest people for several years, has witnessed a sharp decline in his net worth this year. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Gates’ wealth has fallen by $41.3 billion in 2025, bringing his total net worth down to $117 billion. As a result, he has slipped to 16th position on the global rich list.
Gates was the world’s richest person for five consecutive years from 2013 to 2017 and continued to remain among the top 10 billionaires for a long time thereafter. However, a combination of large-scale philanthropy and market-related factors has significantly reduced his fortune. Notably, Gates is the only billionaire among the top 30 this year to have recorded such a major loss in net worth.
A substantial reason behind this decline is Gates’ long-standing commitment to philanthropy. Over the years, he has donated a significant portion of his wealth through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focusing on global health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Before Gates’ dominance, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim held the title of the world’s richest person from 2009 to 2012, while legendary investor Warren Buffett topped the list in 2008. After Gates stepped down from the top spot, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ruled the rankings for four years. In 2022, Elon Musk became the world’s richest person, briefly losing the title in 2023 to French luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault, before reclaiming it again in 2024, a position he continues to hold.
Elon Musk Leads, Eyes Trillionaire Status
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Elon Musk currently tops the list with a staggering net worth of $638 billion, making him the first person in history to cross the $600 billion mark. Market analysts believe Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire as early as next year, driven largely by a potential IPO of his space exploration company SpaceX, which is expected to launch one of the biggest public offerings ever, with a projected valuation of $1.5 trillion.
Musk also heads major companies such as Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), further strengthening his financial dominance.
Other Top Billionaires
Google’s parent company Alphabet co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin occupy the second and third positions with net worths of $265 billion and $246 billion, respectively. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is fourth with $246 billion. Warren Buffett stands tenth with $152 billion, Bernard Arnault ranks seventh with $202 billion, Carlos Slim is 17th with $112 billion, just behind Bill Gates.
Despite his fall in rankings, Gates remains one of the most influential figures in technology and philanthropy worldwide, with his legacy extending far beyond wealth alone.