New Delhi: The global billionaire rankings have seen a dramatic shake-up in the first six weeks of this year, with some of the world’s most famous names slipping out of the top 10 and three siblings from the same family surging into it.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Jim Walton, Rob Walton, and Alice Walton—members of the Walton family—have all secured places among the world’s 10 richest individuals. In contrast, well-known billionaires such as Warren Buffett and Steve Ballmer have dropped out of the top tier.
Jim Walton currently ranks eighth with a net worth of about $158 billion, followed by Rob Walton at ninth with roughly $154 billion. Alice Walton stands tenth, also with an estimated $154 billion, making her the richest woman in the world. All three have seen their wealth jump by more than $20 billion each since the start of the year.
The siblings belong to the Walton family, the founders and largest shareholders of Walmart, the world’s biggest company by revenue. The family collectively owns about 47% of Walmart, which was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton.
The family’s influence extends well beyond the top three. Sam Walton’s grandson, Lukas Walton, ranks 33rd globally with a net worth of nearly $54 billion, while Christy Walton sits at around 100th place with approximately $25 billion.
In total, five members of the Walton family feature in the world’s top 100 richest people, with a combined net worth of about $545 billion—more than the annual GDP of several countries, including Greece, Hungary, and Iran.
Walmart’s massive scale continues to fuel the family’s wealth. The retailer operates over 10,500 stores across 19 countries and follows a discount-driven business model that has proven resilient even during economic slowdowns. In the last fiscal year, Walmart reported revenue of $703.06 billion, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest company by revenue, with a market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion.
The rise of the Walton siblings highlights how family-controlled retail empires can still dominate global wealth rankings, even as technology and finance billionaires face increasing competition at the very top.