FX.co ★ Five billionaires who have added humongous money to their fortunes over past year

Elon Musk

Elon Musk has again grabbed the top rank. Over the past year, his fortune has swollen by a record $147 billion, making him the only billionaire to add a nine-digit figure in a single year. The explosive rise in Tesla’s stock, the doubling of SpaceX’s valuation, and the rapid development of xAI amid avid interest in artificial intelligence secured the title of the richest person in the world. His net worth has reached $342 billion, and he has no intention of slowing down.

Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison has solidified his position among the ultra-rich. Over the past year, his fortune ballooned by $51 billion, thanks to Oracle’s strong performance—its stock soared by 40%. The main catalyst is the growing interest in artificial intelligence, a sector where Oracle is actively investing. Ellison was also among those backing Donald Trump’s AI project worth $500 billion. This political-tech alliance has worked in the billionaire’s favor.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg has undergone a true transformation both in business and public image. Over the past 12 months, his wealth increased by $39 billion, while Meta’s shares gained 25%, driven by a rebound in the advertising market and the active rollout of AI services. For the first time in a few years, Zuckerberg climbed to second place on the list of the world’s richest people. Notably, he also emerged as a political figure, attending the US President’s inauguration alongside a business elite loyal to Trump, despite previously being a vocal opponent.

Lei Jun

Lei Jun delivered one of the most impressive breakthroughs of the year: his fortune nearly quadrupled from $10.9 billion to $43.5 billion. The main driver is buoyant demand for Xiaomi’s electric vehicles, which sent the company’s stock soaring by over 300%. Beyond smartphones, Lei is actively investing in technology. He chairs the board of Kingsoft and is involved in the development of the JOYY video platform. His success is a vivid example of how Chinese high-tech brands are rapidly evolving into diversified global corporations.

Rob Walton

Rob Walton made history as the first member of the Walton family to surpass the $100 billion mark. This milestone was achieved through the steady growth of Walmart’s stock, which has been rallying thanks to strong financial results and the expansion of its online business. In June last year, Rob stepped down from the company’s board of directors, ending a career in management that spanned over 40 years. But even without active involvement in operations, he remains the key beneficiary of the success of America’s largest retailer.