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Discover How The Winds Of The Global Economy Affected The Fortunes Of The Richest In A Year Of Financial Surprises
The year 2024 was a real rollercoaster for many billionaires. While some, like Elon Musk, celebrated the impressive milestone of US$ 400 billion, others felt the tide turn. In the United States, stocks shined, but outside of it, the story was quite different.
The 20 richest people in the world together amassed US$ 3 trillion, but not everything was rosy, according to Forbes.
Bernard Arnault: The Fall Of The Luxury Empire
For Bernard Arnault, the year started promisingly, but soon the winds changed. The luxury goods magnate saw his fortune drop by US$ 24.7 billion.
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The reason? Chinese consumers, who had always been big buyers, hit the brakes, and LVMH‘s stock plummeted. From an uncontested leader, Arnault ended up seeing his wealth shrink to US$ 171.3 billion.
Carlos Slim Helú: Telecommunications Under Pressure
Carlos Slim Helú also faced his challenge. With América Móvil experiencing a decline of nearly 20% in stock prices and the Mexican peso depreciating, he saw US$ 22.9 billion evaporate.
The Mexican billionaire now has US$ 81.3 billion, but he remains one of the biggest names in the sector.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers: Beauty In The Eye Of The Storm
The heir of L’Oréal, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, also did not escape the setbacks of 2024. With a 24% drop in the company’s stock, her wealth decreased by US$ 22 billion.
Even so, she holds the title of the second richest woman on the planet, with US$ 74.7 billion.
Colin Huang: E-Commerce And The Tides Of The Economy
In China, Colin Huang saw his position change rapidly. After a quarter below expectations, PDD Holdings’ stock fell and his fortune shrank by US$ 15.3 billion. He now stands with US$ 36 billion.
Bill Gates: Philanthropy And Financial Adjustments
And then we have Bill Gates, who saw US$ 12 billion leave his account. But don’t worry, it wasn’t the market that caused this. He transferred part of his fortune to support the philanthropic projects of his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates. Generous, isn’t it?
Reflections On A Year Of Challenges
2024 showed that even the richest are not immune to economic storms. The losses of these five total US$ 97 billion, but they still have much to recover.
What remains now is to see how billionaires will navigate these uncertain waters in the coming years. After all, it’s not just highs that the world of fortunes lives on!
