Who topped the Forbes 2024 World's Billionaires list?

Bernard Arnault topped the Forbes 2024 World's Billionaires list, with Forbes estimating his fortune at about $233 billion.

Arnault is chairman and chief executive of LVMH, the luxury-goods group whose brands include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Bulgari and Moët & Chandon. His wealth is closely linked to LVMH's share price and the family's ownership stake.

The Forbes ranking is a snapshot rather than a permanent title. It uses estimated asset values on a specific date, so market movements can change the order quickly. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg were also near the top of the 2024 ranking, which is why different dates can produce different answers.

Arnault's position also illustrates an important distinction in rich lists: Forbes measures estimated net worth, not annual salary or cash held in a bank account. Business ownership, public-company valuations, private-company estimates and debts all influence the calculation.