The world’s richest 500 people added approximately $ 1.8 trillion to their combined wealth in 2020, bringing them to a total net worth of $ 7.6 trillion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Bloomberg noted that the 31 percent increase, even in the midst of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, is the biggest annual gain in the index’s eight-year history.
The growth mainly hit those at the top, where five people now hold more than $ 100 billion each, with another 20 individuals worth at least $ 50 billion each.
At the top of the Bloomberg index is Amazon’s founder and CEO Jeff Bezos
Jeffrey (Jeff) Preston BezosAmazon delivered more than 1.5 billion items during the Washington Post holiday season to add more than 150 jobs next year, taking the newsroom to a record size Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated more than billions in the past 4 months MORE with approximately $ 190 billion. The technology company profited greatly in the midst of the pandemic, when health blockages and restrictions forced more people to turn to online shopping.
Tesla Founder and CEO Elon Musk
Elon Reeve MuskTrump ends Obama’s 12-year run as the most admired man: The CEO of Gallup Apple ignored the meeting request to discuss the sale of Tesla, Musk says NASA selects the next Artemis moonwalker while SpaceX flies on a starship MORE saw the biggest increase in wealth in 2020, which Bloomberg reported to be potentially the fastest wealth creation in history.
Now worth $ 170 billion, Musk first overtook Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates for the title of second richest person in the world in November.
Musk’s increase in wealth was largely driven by Tesla, which on Saturday had a market capitalization of almost $ 670 billion. About three-quarters of Musk’s net worth is made up of Tesla shares.
Bloomberg reported that, combined, Bezos and Musk had an equity increase of about $ 217 billion in 12 months, which is almost enough to send checks of $ 2,000 to more than 100 million Americans.
The rise of the Tesla founder was only the second time in the history of the index that Gates was not considered one of the two richest people in the world.
Gates now ranks third with a total net worth of around $ 132 billion, while Bernard Arnault, LVMH President and CEO Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, ranks fourth with $ 114 billion.
Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Elliot ZuckerbergSelena Gomez criticizes Facebook about COVID-19 misinformation: ‘It will be responsible for thousands of deaths’ Facebook’s rivalry with Apple increases Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers call for action after ‘devastating’ cyber attack on the federal government | US cyber agency issues emergency policy after FTC hacks opens privacy study on major Internet platforms MORE is the fifth richest person in the world, with a net worth of around $ 104 billion.
According to Chuck Collins, director of the Program for Inequality and the Common Good of the Institute for Policy Studies, the growth of the world’s greatest billionaires “hits a nerve point for millions of people who have lost loved ones and experienced declines in their health, wealth and subsistence. ”
“Worse, it undermines any sense that we are ‘in this together’ – the solidarity needed to face the difficult months ahead,” Collins told Bloomberg.
As of Saturday, more than 84 million people worldwide have been infected with COVID-19, with more than 1.8 million deaths from the virus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.