Over the past two centuries, only 19 individuals have held the title of the richest person in the world, a statistic that may come as a surprise to many. Among them is Larry Ellison, the Oracle founder who recently made headlines after witnessing his net worth soar to $400 billion, surpassing Elon Musk. This article delves into Ellison’s remarkable rise and the historical context of wealth accumulation that led to this rarefied circle.
Larry Ellison Becomes the World’s Richest Person
On September 10, 2025, Larry Ellison achieved a milestone by becoming the richest person in the world, marking the first time he has held this title. Within just hours, his fortune skyrocketed by $100 billion, elevating it from $300 billion to an impressive $400 billion. This financial leap pushed Elon Musk, previously in the top spot, into second place, with a net worth of $385 billion.
Ellison and Musk stand out in history as the only individuals to surpass both $300 billion and $400 billion in personal wealth, unadjusted for inflation. Their fortunes are intricately linked, as Ellison famously purchased 1.7% of Tesla for $1 billion back in 2018. Despite still holding around 1.4% of the automaker’s stock—valued at approximately $15 billion—his primary source of wealth remains a 42% stake in Oracle, which has seen its market capitalization multiply from $200 billion to $1 trillion over three years.
Historical Context of Wealth Accumulation
If Oracle’s valuation continues to increase by another 10%, Ellison could eclipse Musk’s all-time record from December 2024, during which Musk’s net worth momentarily touched $485 billion. With sustained growth, Ellison might become the first person in history to attain a net worth of $500 billion, or even achieve the title of trillionaire.
Ellison and Oracle have long stood as competitors to Microsoft and its founder, Bill Gates. Oracle’s public offering in 1986 came just a day before Microsoft’s, and while Gates quickly rose to billionairedom, Oracle faced near bankruptcy following an accounting scandal in 1990. Despite this setback, Gates maintained the title of the richest person for 22 years until Jeff Bezos overtook him in 2017.
Presently, the tables have turned; Gates now ranks 13th with a net worth of $120 billion, while Ellison has claimed the top position, making him $280 billion richer than his rival and highlighting his remarkable comeback in the tech industry.
Below is a comprehensive timeline of the 19 individuals who have been recognized as the world’s richest person since 1820.
All The Richest People On Earth 1820-2025
1820s–1840s: Merchants And Financiers
- Stephen Girard: A Philadelphia banker who financed the War of 1812. Upon his death in 1831, Girard was the richest American, worth about $7.5 million (equivalent to billions today).
- Nathan Mayer Rothschild: Head of the Rothschild banking dynasty’s London branch, he became the wealthiest man in Europe by the 1830s through government financing.
- John Jacob Astor: The first American multi-millionaire, Astor amassed a fortune in fur trading and real estate, leaving an estate of $20 million in 1848—equivalent to hundreds of billions today.
1850s–1870s: The Railroad Age
- Cornelius Vanderbilt: The “Commodore” built a steamship and railroad empire, passing away in 1877 with a fortune of $95 million, the largest at the time.
1880s–1930s: Oil, Steel, And Royals
- John D. Rockefeller: Founder of Standard Oil, he became the world’s first billionaire in 1916, with a peak net worth of around $900 million in 1913—about $336 billion today.
- Andrew Carnegie: Took the title briefly in 1901 after selling U.S. Steel for $480 million.
- Osman Ali Khan, Nizam of Hyderabad: Declared the richest man by Time magazine in 1937, due to his vast jewels and land revenues.
1940s: The Automobile King
- Henry Ford: In the 1940s, he became the richest man, with a fortune of approximately $1.6 billion at his death in 1947—near $200 billion today.
1950s–1970s: Oil And Real Estate
- J. Paul Getty: Named by Fortune as the richest American in 1957, his estate was worth more than $6 billion at his death in 1976.
1980s: Japan’s Bubble Economy
- Yoshiaki Tsutsumi: Inherited the Seibu Railway empire and topped Forbes’ billionaire list in the late 1980s with a fortune of $20 billion.
- Taikichiro Mori: A real estate developer, he became the world’s richest from 1991-92 with $18.5 billion.
1990s–2000s: The Gates Era
- Bill Gates: First claimed the title in 1995 with $12.9 billion, holding the top position for over a decade. He peaked at $90 billion in 1999 (approximately $165 billion today).
- Warren Buffett: Briefly passed Gates in 2008 with a fortune of $62 billion.
- Carlos Slim Helú: Gained the title multiple times in 2010, peaking at $74 billion.
2010s–2020s: Tech Titans
- Jeff Bezos: Founder of Amazon, he reached the top in 2017, peaking at $170 billion in 2019.
- Elon Musk: Surpassed Bezos in 2021 with a peak fortune of $340 billion—the largest in modern history.
- Bernard Arnault: The luxury goods magnate briefly became the richest in 2022 and 2023 with a peak net worth of $211 billion.
2025: Larry Ellison
- Larry Ellison: On September 10, 2025, he became the 19th person to be declared the world’s richest, with a net worth leap to over $400 billion. If Oracle’s success continues, he may break the $500 billion barrier, positioning him as a potential trillionaire.
Richest Person In The World Timeline (1820s–2025)
| Era / Year(s) | Richest Person | Industry / Source of Wealth | Peak Net Worth (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | Stephen Girard | Banking | $7.5M (billions today) |
| 1830s | Nathan Mayer Rothschild | Finance | Hundreds of millions (unmatched in Europe) |
| 1840s | John Jacob Astor | Fur trade, Real estate | $20M (hundreds of billions today, relative to GDP) |
| 1850s–1870s | Cornelius Vanderbilt | Railroads, Shipping | $95M at death (≈$150B today, GDP share) |
| 1880s–1930s | John D. Rockefeller | Oil (Standard Oil) | $900M in 1913 (≈$336B today) |
| Early 1900s | Andrew Carnegie | Steel | $480M (≈$13B today) |
| 1930s | Osman Ali Khan, Nizam of Hyderabad | Royal estates, Jewels, Land | $78M in 1940s (tens of billions today) |
| 1940s | Henry Ford | Automobiles | $1.6B in 1947 (≈$200B today) |
| 1950s–1970s | J. Paul Getty | Oil | $1.2B in 1966, $6B at death in 1976 |
| 1980s–1990s | Yoshiaki Tsutsumi | Real estate, Railways | $20B (≈$50B today) |
| 1991–1992 | Taikichiro Mori | Real estate | $18.5B |
| 1995–2007 | Bill Gates | Microsoft | $90B in 1999 (≈$165B today) |
| 2008 | Warren Buffett | Berkshire Hathaway | $62B |
| 2010–2013 | Carlos Slim Helú | Telecom (América Móvil) | $74B |
| 2014–2017 | Bill Gates | Microsoft | $86B |
| 2017–2020 | Jeff Bezos | Amazon | $170B |
| 2021–2025 | Elon Musk | Tesla, SpaceX | $340B peak in 2021, briefly ~$485B in 2024 |
| 2022–2023 | Bernard Arnault | LVMH (Luxury Goods) | $211B |
| 2025–Present | Larry Ellison | Oracle, Tesla stake | $393B (first person to approach $400B+) |
Conclusion: The Exclusivity of Wealth
It’s important to note that wealth rankings are influenced by various factors, including individual choices, market conditions, and, at times, secrecy. Bill Gates, for instance, owned 40% of Microsoft when it went public and sold shares for years. Had he retained a significant stake, he might have remained the richest person and even reached trillionaire status by January 2024.
Similarly, Jeff Bezos’ financial situation was impacted by his divorce from MacKenzie Scott, which cost him approximately a quarter of his Amazon shares. Without such events, his current net worth could rival that of Ellison and Musk.
Lastly, unverified estimates suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin could control assets worth over $200 billion. Had these claims been substantiated, he could have ranked as the richest person in 2019, but the lack of transparency prevents his name from appearing on any official lists.
Ultimately, wealth remains a fluid and often hidden entity, underlining the exclusivity of the 19 individuals who have been officially recognized as the richest throughout history.
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