In a major development in the world of billionaires, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has soared to become the second richest person in the world once again. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2024, Zuckerberg’s net worth has reached an eye-popping $206 billion, trailing only Elon Musk, who leads with a net worth of around $256 billion.
This monumental jump in Zuckerberg’s fortune came after a remarkable $3.43 billion surge in just one day. His meteoric rise has been fueled by Meta’s bold investments in artificial intelligence (AI). Recently, Zuckerberg has redirected Meta, formerly known as Facebook, towards becoming a leader in AI by building state-of-the-art data centers and boosting computing power to support their growing AI ambitions. These strategic investments have paid off, significantly boosting the company's stock value and, in turn, Zuckerberg's personal wealth.
As of 2024, Zuckerberg owns 13% of Meta, a stake that has driven his wealth to skyrocket by a staggering $78 billion this year alone. His return to the second spot on the world’s rich list highlights not just the power of the tech industry, but also Zuckerberg’s ability to stay ahead of the curve by betting big on the future of AI.
Despite Zuckerberg’s tremendous success, he still has a substantial gap to bridge to overtake Elon Musk, the current wealth leader, with a $50 billion difference between them. Musk has maintained his position at the top due to the success of Tesla, SpaceX, and his various other ventures.
Meanwhile, India’s Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, holds the 14th position on the list, making him the richest person in India. While Ambani’s wealth pales in comparison to Zuckerberg and Musk, he remains a dominant figure in Asia’s business landscape.
Zuckerberg’s dramatic rise in wealth this year underscores the rapid shifts in the billionaire rankings, driven by tech innovations, market trends, and visionary leadership.
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