Key Points:
- Elon Musk gained $42.2 billion, net worth reached $683 billion
- Nine of top 10 billionaires lost wealth in the past 24 hours
- Larry Ellison lost $8.85 billion, Mark Zuckerberg lost $5.3 billion, Jeff Bezos lost $5.22 billion
- Indian billionaires showed contrasting fortunes, Mukesh Ambani gained $342 million while Gautam Adani lost $331 million
- Musk’s gains driven by strong performance of Tesla, SpaceX, and increasing valuation of AI ventures
The fortunes of the world’s wealthiest individuals have seen dramatic fluctuations in the past 24 hours, with the Bloomberg Billionaires Index revealing that nine of the world’s top 10 billionaires experienced a “tsunami” of losses, while Elon Musk was the only one to see gains. While giants like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg lost billions of dollars, Musk’s wealth saw a record increase, further cementing his position as the world’s richest person.
Musk’s Record Earnings
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, saw a sudden and massive increase of $42.2 billion (approximately ₹3.8 lakh crore) in his wealth. Following this surge, Musk’s total net worth has crossed $683 billion, putting him far ahead of other billionaires. The strong performance of Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX, and the increasing valuation of his AI ventures are considered the main reasons for this jump. According to recent reports, Musk had already added $24 billion to his fortune in the first two trading days of 2026, and his wealth reached $619 billion as of January 1, 2026. The latest increase represents one of the largest single-day wealth gains in history.
Losses for Billionaire Giants
In contrast to Musk’s gains, the remaining nine top billionaires suffered significant losses. Larry Ellison’s wealth declined by $8.85 billion (approximately ₹80,000 crore), bringing his net worth down to $246 billion, placing him in fifth position. Mark Zuckerberg lost $5.3 billion, and Jeff Bezos lost $5.22 billion, reducing their net worth to $218 billion and $259 billion, respectively. The losses reflect broader market volatility affecting technology stocks and global markets.
Decline in the List of Wealthy Individuals
Those who lost wealth also included Steve Ballmer, Bernard Arnault, and Nvidia founder Jensen Huang. Ballmer lost $3.55 billion, and Arnault lost $2.48 billion, while Jensen Huang’s net worth decreased by $2.16 billion to $152 billion. Legendary investor Warren Buffett’s fortune also fell by $118 million to $149 billion, reflecting market volatility. The widespread decline among the world’s wealthiest individuals indicates significant market turbulence, particularly in the technology and luxury goods sectors.
Google Founders Take a Hit
The world’s second and third-richest individuals, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, also saw a decline in their wealth. Larry Page took a $70.5 million hit, and his net worth is now $287 billion, while Sergey Brin’s fortune decreased by $90 million to $267 billion. The past day was tough for almost everyone on the top 10 list, except for Elon Musk. The concentrated losses among tech billionaires suggest sector-specific headwinds affecting major technology companies.
Indian Billionaires’ Fortunes
Among Indian billionaires, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s wealth increased by $342 million to $99.9 billion. He remains India’s richest person, while Gautam Adani of the Adani Group suffered a loss of $331 million. Adani’s total net worth is now $80.7 billion, further widening the gap between the two Indian tycoons. In 2025, Mukesh Ambani led India’s billionaire wealth gains with a $16.5 billion surge, while Gautam Adani added $5.9 billion to his fortune, reaching $84 billion by the end of the year. The contrasting daily performance reflects different market movements affecting their respective business empires.
