The wealthiest 9 people in the world control a big portion of the world's economy.
That's according to new data provided to Business Insider by Wealth-X , which conducts research on the super-wealthy. They're holding a database of dossiers on more than 110 000 ultra-high-net-worth people, using a proprietary valuation model that takes into account each person's assets, then adjusts estimated net worth to account for currency-exchange rates, local taxes, savings rates, investment performance, and other factors.
9. Michael Bloomberg
Net worth: $42.1 Billion
Age: 73
Country: US
Source of wealth: Self-made; Bloomberg LP
Michael Rubens Bloomberg, is an American business magnate, politician, and philanthropist. Bloomberg served as the 108th Mayor of New York City, holding office for three consecutive terms, beginning with his first election in 2001. With a net worth of $42.1 billion, Bloomberg is the 6th-wealthiest person in the United States, and the 9th-wealthiest in the world. Bloomberg is the founder, CEO, and owner of Bloomberg L.P., the global financial data and media company that bears his name and is notable for its Bloomberg Terminal, which is widely used by investment professionals around the world.
8. Mark Zuckerberg
Net worth: $42.8 Billion
Age: 31
Country: US
Source of wealth: Self-made; Facebook
Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is an American programmer, Internet entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the chairman, chief executive, and co-founder of the social networking website Facebook. His net worth is estimated to be $42.8 billion as of 2016.
He is by far the youngest one between the 50 wealthiest people on the planet.
7. Larry Ellison
Net worth: $45.3 billion
Age: 71
Country: US
Source of wealth: Self-made; Oracle
Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Ellison is an American businessman who is co-founder of Oracle Corporation and was CEO from its founding until September 2014. He currently serves as executive chairman and chief technology officer of Oracle. In 2016, he was listed by Forbes magazine as the sixth-wealthiest man in America and as the seventh-wealthiest person in the world, with a fortune of $45.3 billion.
6. Charles Koch
Net worth: $46.8 billion
Age: 80
Country: US
Source of wealth: Inheritance/self-made; Koch Industries
Charles de Ganahl Koch is an American businessman, political donor and philanthropist. He is co-owner, chairman of the board, and chief executive officer of Koch Industries, while his brother David H. Koch serves as Executive Vice President. Charles and David each own 42% of the conglomerate. The brothers inherited the business from their father, Fred C. Koch, then expanded the business.[4] Originally involved exclusively in oil refining and chemicals, Koch Industries now includes process and pollution control equipment and technologies; polymers and fibers; minerals; fertilizers; commodity trading and services; forest and consumer products; and ranching. The businesses produce a wide variety of well-known brands, such as Stainmaster carpet, the Lycra brand of spandex fiber, Quilted Northern tissue and Dixie Cup.
5. David Koch
Net worth: $47.4 billion
Age: 75
Country: US
Source of wealth: Inheritance/self-made; Koch Industries
David Hamilton Koch is an American businessman, philanthropist, political activist, and chemical engineer. He joined the family business Koch Industries, a conglomerate that is the second-largest privately held company in the United States, in 1970. He became president of the subsidiary Koch Engineering in 1979, and became a co-owner of Koch Industries, with older brother Charles, in 1983. He is now an executive vice president. Koch is an influential libertarian. He was the 1980 candidate for Vice President of the United States from the United States Libertarian Party and helped finance the campaign. He founded Citizens for a Sound Economy. He and his brother Charles have donated to political advocacy groups and to political campaigns, almost entirely Republican.
4. Jeff Bezos
Net worth: $56.6 billion
Age: 51
Country: US
Source of wealth: Self-made; Amazon.com
Jeffrey Preston "Jeff" Bezos is an American technology entrepreneur and investor. He has played a role in the growth of e-commerce as the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, an online merchant of books and later of a wide variety of products and services, most recently video streaming. Amazon.com became the largest retailer on the World Wide Web and a model for Internet sales.
3. Warren Buffett
Net worth: $60.7 billion
Age: 85
Country: US
Source of wealth: Self-made; Berkshire Hathaway
Warren Edward Buffett is an American business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He is the most successful investor in the world. Buffett is the chairman, CEO and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway, and is consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people. He was ranked as the world's wealthiest person in 2008 and as the third wealthiest in 2015. In 2012 Time named Buffett one of the world's most influential people.
2. Amancio Ortega
Net worth: $66.8 billion
Age: 79
Country: Spain
Source of wealth: Self-made; Inditex
Amancio Ortega Gaona is a Spanish fashion businessman and founding chairman of the Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara clothing and accessories retail shops. He is currently the second richest man in the world with a total fortune of $66.8 billion. He resides with his second wife in an apartment building in Galicia, Spain.
1. Bill Gates
Net worth: $87.4 billion
Age: 60
Country: US
Source of wealth: Self-made; Microsoft
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, entrepreneur, philanthropist, investor, and programmer. In 1975, Gates and Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft, which became the world's largest PC software company. During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of chairman, CEO and chief software architect, and was the largest individual shareholder until May 2014. Gates has authored and co-authored several books.
