The list is curated by Forbes.

The Forbes World’s Billionaires List for 2024 has seen some remarkable additions, with pop sensation Taylor Swift and tech entrepreneur Sam Altman making their debut among the wealthiest individuals worldwide. With an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, Taylor Swift enters the list alongside Sam Altman, the creator of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, who boasts a net worth of $1 billion. Topping the chart, however, is Bernard Arnault, the French magnate behind LVMH, with an astounding fortune of $233 billion.

This year’s list showcases a record 2,781 billionaires, marking an increase of 141 from the previous year and 26 more than the previous record set in 2021. Reflecting the escalating wealth accumulation among the elite, Forbes reports a collective wealth of $14.2 trillion among the billionaires, marking them as richer than ever.

Swift’s inclusion in the list follows her meteoric rise to fame, with notable achievements such as becoming the first artist to win the Grammy for Album of the Year four times. Her album “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” also emerged as the best-selling vinyl LP of last year. Beyond her musical endeavours, Swift’s influence extends to American football games, where her attendance alongside boyfriend Travis Kelce has been credited with boosting NFL viewing figures.

Among the top 10 richest individuals, eight hail from the United States, with six amassing their wealth in the technology sector. Following Arnault, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and formerly Twitter, secures the second spot with a net worth of $195 billion. This marks an 8% increase from last year but a decline from his peak net worth in November 2021.

Joining the ranks of billionaires, basketball icon Magic Johnson and TV producer Dick Wolf have amassed fortunes of $1.2 billion each, propelled by their respective ventures in sports and entertainment.

Forbes highlights the significant rise in billionaire wealth over the past decade, with the class of 2024 collectively worth $2 trillion, a staggering 255% increase from ten years ago. However, this surge in wealth is concentrated among a select few, with just 0.5% of the world’s billionaires holding 14% of all billionaire wealth.

Geographically, the United States remains the hub of billionaire wealth, boasting a record 813 individuals on the list. China and India follow closely behind in terms of billionaire representation.

Despite the wealth surge, 189 individuals have fallen off the list, including notable figures from mainland China and personalities such as Mohamed Al-Fayed and Silvio Berlusconi, who passed away during the year.

The Forbes World’s Billionaires List for 2024 underscores the growing concentration of wealth among a select elite, with individuals like Taylor Swift and Sam Altman joining the ranks of the world’s wealthiest, while established titans like Bernard Arnault and Elon Musk continue to dominate the top spots.