What was the estimated combined wealth of Forbes’ 2024 billionaires?

Forbes estimated the combined wealth of its 2024 billionaires at $14.2 trillion.

The figure represented the total estimated fortunes of 2,781 people on the 2024 World’s Billionaires list. Forbes reported that the group was both larger and richer than in the previous year, reflecting rising stock markets and strong valuations in technology and other sectors.

A combined wealth figure is not the same as national gross domestic product, annual income or cash holdings. It is an estimate of net worth: assets such as company shares and property minus known liabilities, measured at a particular point in time. Because many fortunes are tied to publicly traded shares, the total can change rapidly.

The 2024 total should also be distinguished from the approximately $12.2 trillion reported for the 2023 list. Those numbers are snapshots made with different market conditions and should not be interpreted as a precise cash transfer or annual earnings figure.