The battle for the title of second-wealthiest person in the world continues between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Bezos, with an estimated net worth of $199.6 billion, regained his position on Thursday after briefly losing it to Musk, who has an estimated net worth of $197.4 billion. This marks the second switch of the week for the two billionaires, who have been jockeying for position for months.
Bezos overtook Musk on Thursday after a surge in Tesla stock made Musk about $25 billion richer in just six days, propelling him to the top spot earlier in the week. However, Bezos saw an increase in his net worth by $2.5 billion on Thursday, while Musk’s fortune fell by about $276 million, according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaire List. Despite the back-and-forth, both individuals remain incredibly wealthy and continue to compete for the top positions on the global billionaire rankings.
The wealthiest person in the world as of Thursday morning is Bernard Arnault, the chairman and CEO of LVMH, with an estimated net worth of $206.9 billion. While Bezos and Musk battle for the second position, Arnault holds the top spot on the list. Amazon’s stock was up 1.84% at noon EDT on Thursday, while Tesla’s share price only rose by about 0.08%, indicating that Amazon’s performance in the market may have contributed to Bezos reclaiming the second-richest position.
The ongoing battle between Bezos and Musk for the title of second-wealthiest person in the world is just one aspect of their broader competition in the business world. The two billionaires have been going back and forth in the rankings for months, with at least 13 switches occurring in March alone. Before March, Musk had consistently held the first or second spot in Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings, with Bezos trailing closely behind. Recent fluctuations in their wealth can be attributed to the performance of their respective companies, with Amazon seeing a resurgence earlier this year while Tesla has faced struggles.
The constant shifts in the rankings highlight the volatile nature of wealth and the competitive spirit of successful entrepreneurs like Bezos and Musk. Despite their differences in business strategies and industries, both individuals have achieved immense success and continue to impact the global economy through their companies. The ongoing battle for the top positions in the billionaire rankings serves as a reminder of the immense wealth and power held by a select few individuals, and the influence they wield in the modern world.
