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Forbes' 32nd Annual World's Billionaires Issue
Centi-Billionaire Jeff Bezos Seizes Top Spot for the First Time
A record 2,208 Billionaires Made the 2018 List of the World’s Richest People
ON THE COVER: Private Equity’s Engineer, Robert Smith
NEW YORK (March 6, 2018) – A record 2,208 billionaires made Forbes’ 32nd annual ranking of the world’s billionaires, as featured in the March 31, 2018 issue of Forbes magazine.”The superrich continue to get richer, widening the gap between them and everyone else,” said Luisa Kroll and Kerry A. Dolan, Assistant Managing Editors of Wealth, at Forbes Media. To view the list, visit www.forbes.com/billionaires.
Centi-billionaire Jeff Bezos seizes the top spot for the first time. Bezos has a fortune of $112 billion, up $39.2 billion from 2017, the biggest one-year gain ever. Bill Gates, who has been the richest person in the world for 18 of the past 24 years, drops to No. 2 on the Forbes billionaires list. Gates has a fortune of $90 billion, up from $86 billion last year. This is the biggest gap (in dollars) between the top 2 spots since 2001. Warren Buffett, worth $84 billion, falls to the No. 3 spot. His net worth increased from $75.6 billion in 2017. Bernard Arnault, with a fortune of $72 billion, ascends 7 spots in the ranks to No. 4. Thanks to his $30.5 billion gain in the past year, Arnault is the richest person in Europe for the first time since 2012. Rounding out the top five is Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, worth $71 billion. Spanish clothing retailer Amancio Ortega (best known for the Zara fashion chain) in at No. 6, drops out of the top 5 for the first time since 2011. Ortega’s net worth is $70 billion, a $1.3 billion decrease from 2017.
- 2,208 billionaires (up from 2,043 in 2017) made the list, with an average net worth of $4.1 billion, a record high.
- The total combined net worth of this year’s billionaires was $9.1 trillion, up from $7.7 trillion last year.
- 1,490 members are self-made billionaires, up from 1,371 in 2017.
The Top 20 billionaires have a combined net worth of a record $1.2 trillion, up from $968.8 billion in 2017. Their aggregate wealth represents 13% of all 2,208 billionaires. The minimum net worth to make the cut into the Top 20 is now a record $39 billion, up from $30.4 billion in 2017.
| Forbes 2018 Top 20 Billionaires | |||||
| Rank | Name | Final Worth ($bil) | Up/Down from 2017 | Citizenship | Origin of Wealth |
| 1 | Jeff Bezos | $112 | Up | United States | Amazon.com |
| 2 | Bill Gates | 90 | Up | United States | Microsoft |
| 3 | Warren Buffett | 84 | Up | United States | Berkshire Hathaway |
| 4 | Bernard Arnault & family | 72 | Up | France | LVMH |
| 5 | Mark Zuckerberg | 71 | Up | United States | |
| 6 | Amancio Ortega | 70 | Down | Spain | Zara |
| 7 | Carlos Slim Helu & family | 67.1 | Up | Mexico | telecom |
| 8 | Charles Koch | 60 | Up | United States | Koch Industries |
| 8 | David Koch | 60 | Up | United States | Koch Industries |
| 10 | Larry Ellison | 58.5 | Up | United States | software |
| 11 | Michael Bloomberg | 50 | Up | United States | Bloomberg LP |
| 12 | Larry Page | 48.8 | Up | United States | |
| 13 | Sergey Brin | 47.5 | Up | United States | |
| 14 | Jim Walton | 46.4 | Up | United States | Wal-Mart |
| 15 | S. Robson Walton | 46.2 | Up | United States | Wal-Mart |
| 16 | Alice Walton | 46 | Up | United States | Wal-Mart |
| 17 | Ma Huateng | 45.3 | Up | China | internet media |
| 18 | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & family | 42.2 | New | France | L’Oréal |
| 19 | Mukesh Ambani | 40.1 | Up | India | petrochemicals, oil & gas |
| 20 | Jack Ma | 39 | Up | China | e-commerce |
For the complete list, visit: www.forbes.com/billionaires.
President Trump, worth $3.1 billion, ranks No. 766, falling from No. 544 in 2017. Trump’s fortune has fallen $400 million since the 2017 Billionaires list, due partially fallings values of Midtown Manhattan real estate and declining revenues at several Trump golf properties. (Trump’s net worth remains the same as it did when Forbes valued him in October 2017, for the 2017 Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.)
ON THE COVER: Private Equity’s Engineer, Robert Smith, is featured in the Forbes cover story “How to Beat Wall Street and Silicon Valley Simultaneously.” The American Dream is alive and well on Wall Street thanks to Robert Smith, the richest black person in America, who has figured out a way to reengineer both private equity and enterprise software – and used this secret playbook to build a $4.4 billion fortune.
Key Highlights from Forbes’ 2018 World’s Billionaires list:
Women
- The total number of women on the list is 256, up from 227 in 2017. This includes 13 women who share their fortunes with their husband, brother, or son.
- A record 72 of those women are self-made billionaires, an all-time high and significant increase from 56 women in 2017.
- The richest self-made woman is Hong Kong’s Zhou Qunfei, whose Lens Technology company makes screens for smartphones. The company went public in 2015.
- The U.S. boasts the most women billionaires on the 2018 list, with 82, followed by Germany with 33 and China with 30. These numbers include 5 women in the U.S. who have built companies with their husbands (with whom they are listed), and 1 woman in Germany who shares an inherited fortune with her brother.
Newcomers/Drop-Offs
- This year 259 billionaires are new to the list, up from the 195 newcomers in 2017.
- China has the most newcomers, with 89, followed by 45 newcomers from the U.S., 18 newcomers from India and 13 from Germany.
- Notable newcomers include Ronnen Harary and Anton Rabie, two Canadians whose toy company is behind Hatchimals and PAW Patrol; Canadian Tobi Lutke, who founded ecommerce platform Shopify; and the first ever cryptocurrency billionaires, Ripple cofounder Chris Larsen and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ).
- Other newcomers include Americans Lynsi Snyder, the In-N-Out Burger heir; and Niraj Shah and Steve Conine, cofounders of online home goods retailer Wayfair. Telecom mogul Strive Masiyiwa joins as Zimbabwe’s first-ever billionaire.
- Altogether, 121 people dropped out of the rankings, an increase from 2017’s 78 drop-offs.
- Notable drop-offs include Papa John’s pizza founder John Schnatter, Christoffel Wiese of South Africa, Indian jeweler Nirav Modi, and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud.
By Country
- Regionally, Asia-Pacific boasts the most billionaires, with 827, followed by the United States with 585 and Europe with 559.
- By country, the U.S. leads with the greatest number of billionaires, with 585, followed by Greater China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) with 476, Germany with 123, India with 119 and Russia with 102. California alone has 144 billionaires, more than any country besides the U.S. and China.
- The United Kingdom has 53 billionaires, versus 54 in 2017.
- There are billionaires from 72 countries and territories this year, compared to 71 last year.
- Wealth is stretching to new corners of the world, with two countries, Hungary and Zimbabwe, represented on the list for the first time.
Methodology
The Forbes Billionaires list is a snapshot of wealth taken on February 9, 2018; Forbes used that day’s stock prices and exchange rates from around the world. It lists individuals rather than multigenerational families who share large fortunes. In some cases siblings and couples are listed together if the ownership breakdown among them isn’t clear, however they still must be worth on average a minimum of $1 billion apiece to make the cut.
For the full list, videos and more, visit www.forbes.com/billionaires.
Media Contacts:
U.S. – Christina Vega at cvega@forbes.com or 212.206.5155; Crystal Kwok at ckwok@forbes.com or 212.367.4871
Asia – Catherine Ong at cath@catherineong.com or +65 6327 6088
Europe – Rose Schreiber at r.schreiber@hawthornadvisors.com or + 44 (0) 20 3745 4960
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…Read MoreThe Best Presidents’ Day Mattress Sales & Bedding Deals Still Happening Now
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Although the holiday weekend has come and gone, many Presidents’ Day mattress sales are continuing for the next few days. Mattress brands like Brooklyn Bedding and DreamCloud had longer sales to begin with, while others are extending their sales dates to give you more time to shop. Some retailers are continuing to throw in free pillows or bedding bundles with your purchase for extra incentive, adding up to hefty savings for one of the biggest purchases you can make for the bedroom.
Take up to $350 off mattresses and get a free sleep bundle with your purchase.
PURPLEWhile finding a good mattress that’s still on sale won’t be difficult, it does take some research to find the right mattress for your needs. We’ve curated lists that can help narrow your search, including the best mattresses you can shop from top brands as well as the best memory foam mattresses, the best mattresses for side sleepers, and the best firm mattresses.
Considering the next big holiday for mattress sales won’t be until Memorial Day at the end of May, now’s the time to below. Below, check out the best Presidents’ Day mattress sales you can still shop now (plus some great deals on bedding to properly deck out your new bed).
Best Presidents’ Day Mattress Sales & Deals
DreamCloud: With every mattress purchase, you can get a free mattress protector, sheet set, and premium pillows now through February 22.
Saatva: Take $200 off your purchase of $1,000 or more now through February 22.
Helix: Get two free pillows and save up to $200 with your purchase of a Helix mattress with code PRESDAY200.
Birch: Take up to $200 off your mattress and get two free pillows with your purchase with code PRESDAY200.
Keetsa: Take 15% off all mattress with code NEWERA.
Leesa: Shop Leesa’s Presidents’ Day sale and save up to $400 on mattresses, plus get two free pillows with your purchase.
Nectar: Now through February 22, you can get free accessories worth $399 with every mattress purchase. Complimentary accessories include a mattress protector, sheets set, and luxury pillows.
Cocoon by Sealy: Save 35% on mattresses and get two free pillows and a sheet set (a $799 value) with each purchase.
Yogasleep: Get up to $200 off the Yogabed, a premium memory foam mattress, now through February 15.
Bear: Take 20% off sitewide, plus get a $250 gift set (two Cloud pillows and a mattress protector) free with your mattress purchase.
Layla: Now through February 28, get up to $200 off mattresses and $300 in free products including a mattress protector, sheet set, and pillows with every mattress purchase.
Tempur-Pedic: Save up to $500 on premium adjustable mattress sets now through February 22.
Purple: Take up to $350 off mattresses and get a free sleep bundle with your purchase.
Casper: Take 15% off mattresses now through February 21.
FORBES.COMCasper Promo Codes | 15% Off In February 2021 | ForbesBrooklyn Bedding: Now through February 23, take 25% off sitewide. Military and first responders can take 30% off sitewide.
Beautyrest: Now through March 1, get up to $300 off select mattresses.
Country Living: Get 20% off Country Living’s new Welcome Home mattress collection.
Brentwood Home: Get $175 off Cedar Natural Luxe hybrid mattresses, Crystal Cove hybrid mattresses, and Oceano hybrid mattresses with code POTUS or $100 off all other hybrid latex mattresses (no code needed).
WinkBeds: Save $300 on a new mattress.
Big Fig: Take $300 off a mattress with code PRES21.
Sleep Number: Save up to 50% on mattresses.
Tuft & Needle: Now through February 15, take 15% off mattresses.
Avocado: Use code FLAG200 to save $200 on select mattresses now through February 22.
Lull: Get $250 off any size mattress.
Awara: Get $399 in free accessories with your mattress purchase now through February 22.
Luma: Take 20% off sitewide.
Amerisleep: Take 30% off any mattress with code PRES30.
Haven: Take 30% off sitewide.
Mattress Firm: Save up to $500 on mattresses from Mattress Firm’s bestselling brands including Sealy, Serta, Sleepy’s, and Tulo.
Emma: Get 30% off all mattresses.
Zoma: Use code PRES150 to take $150 off any mattress.
GhostBed: Take 25% off all mattresses and get two luxury pillows with your purchase.
Nolah: Now through February 18, take up to $800 off mattresses.
RVMattress.com: Take 25% off sitewide. Military and first responders get 30% off.
Idle Sleep: Get 30% off sitewide.
Eden: Get $200 off any mattress.
Sweet Night: Take 20% off mattresses.
Nest Bedding: Use code PREzzzDAY now through the end of the month to take 20% off sitewide.
Stearns & Foster: Save up to $800 on adjustable mattresses.
Best Presidents’ Day Bedding Sales & Deals
To complement extended Presidents’ Day mattress sales, there are also plenty of Presidents’ Day bedding deals still on now too. You can save on sheet sets, pillows, comforters, quilts, and more.
Anthropologie: Take an additional 25% off all sale items (excluding furniture).
Bed Bath & Beyond: Take up to 20% off select Therapedic pillows, up to $40 off select comforter sets, up to $20 off select quilts, and up to $10 select comforters and duvet covers.
Boll & Branch: Take 15% off your first sheet set with code 15SHEETS.
Brooklinen: Take 15% off sitewide and 20% off limited edition items, like duvet covers, comforters, and sheets.
Buffy: Take 15% off all products, from linen sheet sets to mattress protectors.
The Company Store: Shop the Semi-Annual sale and take up to 30% off luxury collections with code B21LUXURY.
Crane & Canopy: Take up to 70% off bedding during the Winter Mega Sale at Crane & Canopy.
Crate & Barrel: Take up to 60% off clearance, including blankets, sheets, and sleep mask sets.
Kumi Kokoon: Use code FREESHIP250 on silk bedding orders over $250 to get free shipping.
Legends Hotel™ Supima® Cotton Wrinkle-Free Sateen Duvet Cover (Queen)
Macy’s: Take 20% off bedding.
Pottery Barn: Take up to 50% off bedding during Pottery Barn’s Warehouse Sale.
Serena & Lily: Shop the Bedroom Event at Serena & Lily and enjoy special pricing on bedding.
Target: Take 20% off bedding clearance.
FORBES.COMTarget Coupons | 10% Off In February 2021 | ForbesWest Elm: The bedding clearance section has options for all bed sizes, with prices starting at $9.99.
Send me a secure tip.Before I became the assistant content producer for Forbes Shopping, I was an editorial fellow on the affiliate commerce team at Business Insider. I studied creative
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