The global wealth map is constantly changing as the stocks of major companies fluctuate, and evaluations of technology, AI, energy, and luxury goods firms shift. As of September 2026, American billionaire Elon Musk continues to top the list of the world's richest people, significantly outpacing his closest competitors, primarily due to the rising value of his shares in SpaceX and Tesla.
According to Forbes' list of the world's top 10 richest people as of September 1, 2026, Musk's wealth was estimated at $892 billion. Larry Page holds the second spot with a wealth of $277 billion. Forbes notes that these are estimates and can change daily with market movement.
Who is the richest person in the world in 2026?
Elon Musk leads the list of the wealthiest individuals in the world in September 2026, after a significant increase in his fortune over August.
According to Forbes, Musk's wealth surged by $202 billion in August alone, reaching $892 billion by September 1. This rise coincided with increased shares of Tesla and the valuation of SpaceX.
However, wealth accumulation didn't stop there. Forbes' real-time list on September 7 showed an estimated fortune of approximately $908.2 billion, reflecting the swift changes in the fortunes of top billionaires.
Top 10 Richest People in the World as of September 2026
1. Elon Musk – $892 billion
Elon Musk ranks first worldwide with a fortune of $892 billion according to Forbes' listing as of September 1, 2026.
The majority of his wealth stems from his stakes in SpaceX and Tesla, alongside his involvement in AI, space, and electric vehicle projects.
Musk became the first person in history to cross the trillion-dollar wealth mark temporarily in June 2026, before his wealth fluctuated with market changes.
2. Larry Page – $277 billion
Google co-founder Larry Page holds second place with an estimated wealth of $277 billion.
Page co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998 and remains a major stakeholder in its parent company, Alphabet.
Despite a $15 billion drop in his wealth during August, he maintained second place with a significant lead over other competitors.
3. Jeff Bezos – $268 billion
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ranks third with a fortune of around $268 billion.
Bezos started Amazon as an online bookstore, which then transformed into one of the largest e-commerce and cloud computing companies worldwide.
He also owns the space company Blue Origin, alongside various investments in different sectors.
4. Sergey Brin – $256 billion
Google co-founder Sergey Brin stands fourth with a wealth of approximately $256 billion.
Brin remains a significant shareholder in Alphabet and has recently re-engaged with the company's AI efforts.
Despite a $13 billion decrease in his wealth over August, he maintained his position among the top four globally.
5. Michael Dell – $241 billion
Dell Technologies founder and chairman, Michael Dell, ranks fifth with a fortune of about $241 billion.
Dell embarked on his career in computing at a young age, building a company that became a leading name in IT globally.
The increased value of his stake in Dell contributed to his wealth increase recently.
6. Mark Zuckerberg – $197 billion
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, ranks sixth with a fortune estimated at $197 billion.
Zuckerberg founded Facebook while studying at Harvard, which evolved into Meta, encompassing Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
He continues as the CEO of the company and holds substantial shares.
7. Larry Ellison – $193 billion
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison takes the seventh spot with a wealth of around $193 billion.
Ellison's fortune saw a significant increase in August, rising by about $25 billion, driven by Oracle's stock surge.
He is a prominent figure in the software and database industry and holds significant investments in other areas.
8. Jensen Huang – $191 billion
Nvidia CEO and co-founder Jensen Huang ranks eighth with a wealth of about $191 billion.
Huang's wealth greatly benefits from Nvidia's status in the AI chip and graphics processing industry.
His wealth rose by approximately $17 billion in August, though he fell one rank behind Ellison.
9. Steve Ballmer – $155 billion
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer ranks ninth with an estimated wealth of $155 billion.
Ballmer joined Microsoft early in its growth, serving as CEO from 2000 to 2014.
His wealth largely hinges on his stake and investments tied to Microsoft.
10. Amancio Ortega – Approximately $148 billion
Inditex Group founder Amancio Ortega, which owns Zara, rounds out the list of the top 10 wealthiest people globally.
Ortega represents a rare non-U.S. entry on this list, being Spanish.
He entered the top 10 after Bernard Arnault and Warren Buffet exited the top spots in the September ranking.
Why has Elon Musk's wealth skyrocketed?
The majority of Musk's wealth is tied to the value of shares in companies he founded or leads. Forbes notes that the surge in Tesla's shares and the value of SpaceX were key factors behind the substantial jump in his wealth in August 2026.
Data also show how tech and space company valuations impact owner wealth, as a billionaire's fortune can rise or fall by tens of billions in a short period without actual cash inflow.
Why do the rankings of the richest people fluctuate constantly?
A billionaire's announced wealth doesn't mean they have that amount in a bank account. It mostly depends on the stock value and stakes they hold in companies.
When the share price of a company a billionaire has substantial holdings in rises, their estimated wealth goes up, and vice versa when the share price drops.
Due to this, the list of the richest people can vary daily, with positions potentially changing during trading hours.
Forbes confirms that billionaires' net worths in the Real-Time list change continuously with market movements.
What's the cumulative wealth of the top 10 richest people?
Forbes estimated the total wealth of the top 10 richest individuals as of September 1, 2026, at about $2.8 trillion, compared to around $2.6 trillion the previous month.
This indicates the concentration of global wealth among a limited number of major company owners, especially in tech.
The richest woman in the world in 2026
Despite men dominating the top 10 slots, there are women within the world's richest list.
Alice Walton, Walmart heiress, leads as the richest woman, with Forbes estimating her fortune at $116 billion on September 1, 2026, ranking her sixteenth globally.
Could Elon Musk become the first trillionaire permanently?
Musk became the first individual to break the trillion-dollar wealth mark in June 2026 according to Forbes estimates. However, he didn't maintain this level due to the volatility in his companies' stock values.
By September 7, Forbes' real-time list showed his wealth at about $908.2 billion, indicating his proximity to the trillion-dollar threshold.
It's likely that his position will remain tied to Tesla and SpaceX's performance and tech and AI firm valuations in the near future.
Conclusion
The top 10 richest people in the world in 2026 feature key entrepreneurs in tech, commerce, software, and fashion.
Elon Musk holds a substantial lead at number one, followed by Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, Michael Dell, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Jensen Huang, Steve Ballmer, and Amancio Ortega, according to Forbes as of early September 2026.
These figures are estimates and subject to change, meaning any ranking of the richest people should be viewed as a snapshot that may shift with market and company value alterations.
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