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The world's 10 richest people, every year since 1987

Forbes top 10 richest people, 1987–2026

Source: Forbes World's Billionaires, 1987 & 1990–2026 (nominal US$) · March 2026
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Guess the number: Elon Musk, 2026

1,250 B
0 B2,500 B
0:00 / 0:29

Narration

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Runs 0:29.

How to read this chart: Bar length is the value at that moment and the order re-sorts as the values change. Watch the overtakes — and watch the axis, which usually rescales as it goes. More on bar race charts.

The takeaway

Today's 10th-richest person has more than 7× what the 1987 champion did (nominal dollars).

Transcript

839 billion dollars. In 1987, the world's richest person had just 20 billion. Japanese property tycoons topped the list until 1990. Then the Waltons, Bill Gates, Carlos Slim and Jeff Bezos each took a turn. Even tenth place today, at 148 billion dollars, beats the 1987 champion. At the top, Elon Musk holds 839 billion dollars. Follow for daily stats from NumberReels, and tell us which stat you'd like to see next.

Source & method

  • Figures from Forbes World's Billionaires, 1987 & 1990–2026 (nominal US$).
  • Covering March 2026.
  • Rendered as a bar race chart.

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