Forbes World’s Billionaires List released on March 12, 2026

Key facts

• The 40th annual edition of the Forbes World’s Billionaires list was released on March 12, 2026, identifying a record 3,428 billionaires globally.
• Elon Musk retained the top spot with a fortune of $839 billion, becoming the first individual to cross the $800 billion wealth mark.
• The total wealth controlled by billionaires worldwide increased to $20.1 trillion in 2026 from $16.1 trillion in 2025.
• The United States (US) leads the global billionaire count with 989 individuals, followed by China with 539 and India with 229.
• Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries (RIL) remains the richest person in India and Asia, while Savitri Jindal of the OP Jindal Group is the wealthiest woman in India.
• The top five richest individuals globally are Elon Musk, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
• A total of 20 individuals now possess fortunes exceeding $100 billion, an increase from 15 individuals recorded in 2025.
• New additions to the list include Greg Abel, the future Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Berkshire Hathaway, and tennis legend Roger Federer.
• India’s 10 wealthiest individuals hold a combined fortune of approximately $368 billion, accounting for over one-third of the total wealth of Indian billionaires.
• The 2026 rankings included 20 Indian women billionaires, with Savitri Jindal leading the group.