There are 10 Greeks named in the Forbes’ World Billionaires list for 2024, a year that has seen more billionaires than ever the magazine says.
According to Forbes, there are 2,781 billionaires in the world, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021. They’re richer than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021.
Two-thirds of the list’s members are worth more than a year ago; only one fourth are poorer. Much of the gains come from the top 20, who added a combined $700 billion in wealth since 2023, and from the U.S., which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion.
China remains second, with 473 (including Hong Kong) worth $1.7 trillion, despite weak consumer spending and a real estate bust that helped wipe out some $300 billion in wealth. India, which has 200 billionaires (also a record), ranks third.
According to Forbes the richest person on earth for 2024 is Bernard Arnault with a net worth of $233 billion. The French billionaire oversees the LVMH empire of 75 fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sephora.
Elon Musk is the second richest with a net worth of $195 billion and Jeff Bezos follows slightly behind at $194 billion.
To calculate net worths, Forbes used stock prices and exchange rates from March 8, 2024.
Top 10 richest people in the world
The Greeks amongst Forbes’ World Billionaires
The highest ranking Greek billionaire at 432 is Maria Angelicoussis with a net worth of $6.4 billion. Angelicoussis is the CEO and owner of Angelicoussis Group, a shipping company based in Athens, Greece.
At 991 is Aristotelis Mistakidis with a net worth of $3.3 billion. Known as “Telis,” the Greek billionaire stepped down from his role as the director of Glencore’s copper business at the end of 2018.
Philip Niarchos, the oldest son of the late shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos, with a net worth of $2.8 billion is in the third place among Greek billionaires, followed by George Prokopiou and family with a net worth of $2.6 billion. Prokopiou owns Greek shipping firms Dynacom, Dynagas Holding and Sea Traders, plus a 42 percent stake in publicly traded Dynagas LNG Partners.
Ranking at 1438 is Constantinos Martinos and family with a net worth of $2.3 billion. He is the owner of Greek shipping firm Thenamaris, which has a fleet of 89 tankers, bulk carriers, container ships and LNG carriers.
Spiro Latsis who inherited the fortune of his late father, Greek shipping tycoon John S. Latsis follows in the list of Greek billionaires with a net worth of $2.2 billion.
The seventh richest Greek according to Forbes is Vardis J. Vardinoyannis who cofounded Motor Oil Hellas, a petroleum company based in Greece, with his late brother in 1970 is with a net worth of $2.1 billion.
Marianna Latsis and family with a net worth of $1.8 billion follow. Latsis inherited the fortune of her late father, Greek shipping tycoon John S. Latsis alongside her siblings John and Margarita.
Ranking at 1764 is Andreas Martinos and family with a net worth of $1.8 billion. He is the owner of Greek shipping firm Minerva Marine, which has a fleet of 71 tankers, dry cargo and container vessels.
Athanasios Martinos with a net worth of $1.5 billion completes the list of Greek billionaires. Martinos is the owner of Greek shipping firm Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, which has a fleet of 78 tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels.
Related: World’s Five Richest Men Doubled Their Wealth Since 2020
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