Who Held the Title of Richest Person in the World Each Year: 1980s to Present?

The world has undergone radical transformations since the 1980s, shaping the business landscape in unprecedented ways. From the advent of smartphones, the internet, and electric cars to groundbreaking innovations from companies like Amazon, Google, and Tesla, technological and economic shifts have played pivotal roles in altering the richest people rankings.

In 1987, the world's richest individuals were just starting to build empires that would eventually dominate the global economy. At that time, many tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk had not yet begun their rise to fame—Zuckerberg was just 3 years old, while Musk was a teenager in South Africa.

Surprisingly, Bill Gates, while a billionaire by 1987, was not the world's wealthiest person that year. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, the Japanese real estate mogul, held that title during the late '80s. This article will explore the fluctuating list of the richest people from 1985 to today, spotlighting key individuals who have dominated the wealth rankings.

1980s – 1990s: The Rise of Japanese Magnates and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough

1985 – 1990: Yoshiaki Tsutsumi
Yoshiaki Tsutsumi took the lead in the 1980s, building a sprawling empire through his Seibu Corporation. At its peak, Seibu owned vast swathes of land in Japan, including railways, hotels, resorts, and even a professional baseball team. In 1987, Tsutsumi's net worth was $20 billion, roughly equivalent to $45 billion today. His empire, often referred to as the “Seibu Kingdom,” made him the wealthiest person in the world through 1990, despite the rise of global tech fortunes.

1991 – 1992: Taikichiro Mori
In 1991, Taikichiro Mori, founder of the Mori Building Company, surpassed Tsutsumi for a brief period. A former professor turned real estate tycoon, Mori's wealth peaked at $18.5 billion in 1991. His ventures included some of Tokyo’s most iconic real estate developments. However, his wealth began to decline in the early '90s, and by 1993, the title of richest person returned to Tsutsumi.

The Tech Revolution and Bill Gates' Reign

1995 – 2007: Bill Gates
Bill Gates became the world's richest person in 1995 with a net worth of $12.9 billion, which today would be adjusted to around $26 billion. The growth of Microsoft throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, culminating in the company's IPO in 1986, catapulted Gates to billionaire status. He would retain this position for 12 consecutive years, with his wealth soaring to $90 billion by 1999. However, the dot-com crash in the early 2000s led to fluctuations, with his net worth dipping to $46.6 billion by 2004, but he remained a dominant figure in the wealth rankings.

The Buffett and Slim Era

warren buffett

2008: Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett made history in 2008 when he briefly became the richest person in the world with a net worth of $62 billion. This was a notable shift during the global financial crisis, a time when Buffett's conservative investment strategies allowed him to flourish while many others faltered. Although he held the top spot for just one year, Buffett’s long-term value investing prowess is still renowned.

2009 – 2010: Bill Gates (again)
After Buffett's temporary reign, Bill Gates reclaimed the title in 2009 with a net worth of $40 billion. In 2010, Carlos Slim Helu, the Mexican telecom magnate, surged to the top spot for the first time, with a fortune based largely on his America Movil telecommunications empire.

The Emergence of Tech Giants and the Bezos-Musk Era

2010 – 2013: Carlos Slim Helu
Carlos Slim held the title of the richest person in the world from 2010 to 2013, with a peak net worth of $74 billion in 2011. His fortune, primarily drawn from his telecom ventures, earned him the top spot, surpassing Bill Gates. However, his wealth eventually began to stagnate as other tech billionaires made their ascent.

2014 – 2017: Bill Gates (again)
In 2014, Bill Gates reclaimed the top spot for a final four-year run, despite competition from Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and French luxury magnate Bernard Arnault. By 2017, Gates' wealth had grown to $86 billion, and he remained the world's wealthiest person as technology and global wealth continued to shift.

2018 – 2021: Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, made history by overtaking Bill Gates for the top spot in 2018. Bezos’ net worth reached an astounding $170 billion by 2019. Despite challenges, such as his divorce in 2019 which saw him part with a significant portion of Amazon stock, Bezos' wealth continued to rise. By the end of 2020, Bezos’ net worth remained strong at $111 billion, signaling his sustained position at the pinnacle of global wealth.

Elon Musk’s Meteoric Rise

2021 – 2023: Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s meteoric rise to the top of the world’s wealth rankings began in 2021. With his net worth reaching an astronomical $340 billion that year, Musk became the wealthiest person in modern history, surpassing previous records held by John D. Rockefeller. His success is largely attributed to his ventures with Tesla, SpaceX, and his vast holdings in other technology and infrastructure companies.

The 2024-2025 Wealth Race

2024-2025: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bernard Arnault
In 2024, the race for the world’s richest person has seen a three-way contest between Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bernard Arnault. After briefly losing the crown to Bezos in March 2024, Musk regained the top position by the end of the year. For a brief moment in December 2024, Musk's wealth neared an unprecedented $500 billion.

Meanwhile, Bernard Arnault, CEO of luxury conglomerate LVMH, saw his net worth cross the $200 billion threshold in 2024, making him the richest person for a short period. This contest between three business moguls signals the continued volatility and competition among the world’s wealthiest individuals.

The Richest Person in the World Every Year: A Snapshot

Here’s a summary of who held the crown as the richest person from 1985 to 2025:

This chart outlines the rise and fall of these incredibly wealthy individuals, highlighting how the wealth rankings have evolved over the last few decades. Whether through technology, telecommunications, or luxury goods, these figures have played a critical role in shaping the global economic landscape.