Taylor Swift Among 141 New Billionaires in 2024’s Richest List

The latest Forbes World’s Billionaires List for 2024 reveals an unprecedented number of billionaires globally, setting a new record for both the number of billionaires and their combined wealth. Among the newcomers is American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, making her debut as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

This year’s list illustrates a surge in the billionaire population, now totaling 2,781, with 141 new entrants, including Swift. This figure surpasses the previous high from 2021 by 26 individuals. Despite global economic challenges like inflation, pandemics, and geopolitical tensions, the collective fortune of these billionaires has soared by 120% over the last decade.

The majority, about two-thirds, of the individuals on the list have seen their wealth increase compared to last year, with only a quarter experiencing a decline. Notably, the significant wealth accumulation was predominantly seen among the top 20 billionaires, who together added $700 billion to their fortunes since the previous year.

The United States leads the count with a record 813 billionaires, accumulating a combined wealth of $5.7 trillion, followed by China (including Hong Kong) with 473 billionaires worth $1.7 trillion, and India, which boasts 200 billionaires with total assets of $954 billion.

Topping the 2024 list is Bernard Arnault and his family, the force behind the luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, with an impressive fortune of $233 billion, marking Arnault’s second consecutive year at the summit. Elon Musk follows with a net worth of $195 billion, and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos ranks third with a fortune estimated at $194 billion.

Taylor Swift’s entry into the billionaire ranks, with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, highlights her significant earnings from songwriting and performance. Her success is further underscored by the Eras Tour, which became the first to generate over $1 billion in revenue. Swift stands out among the 265 new names on this year’s list.

The title of the wealthiest newcomer went to Italy’s Andrea Pignataro, the founder of the financial software company ION Group, which he expanded through strategic acquisitions. Pignataro’s net worth is estimated at $27.5 billion, marking a significant debut on Forbes’ prestigious list.