The music industry can be incredibly lucrative, and some artists have amassed staggering fortunes. When the songs from these artists make you laugh and cry, their bank balance reach the sky. Sometimes their singles touch millions of people in the heart, and they get rewarded with millions of dollars. Here are top 10 richest musicians in the world as of 2024.

Let’s take a look at the the wealthiest musicians globally, ranked by net worth. As of 2024, here’s a glimpse into the lives and fortunes of these ten richest musicians in the world.

1. Jay-Z

Jay-Z’s Net Worth: $2.5 Billion

Shawn Corey Carter, famously known as Jay-Z, reigns as the pinnacle of musical wealth. Not only has he garnered 24 Grammy Awards, but he’s also made history as the first billionaire musician. Beyond music, his ventures into clothing retail, luxury bars, and streaming platforms have cemented his status as a savvy businessman.

Achievements: Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, is widely considered the wealthiest musician in the world. His success extends beyond music, with investments in various businesses and ventures.

2. Rihanna

Rihanna’s Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

Robyn Rihanna Fenty, or simply Rihanna, embodies both musical prowess and humanitarian spirit. While her wealth is rooted in her chart-topping hits and fashion empire, her philanthropic endeavors, including the Clara Lionel Foundation, reflect her commitment to social causes.

Versatility: Rihanna, known for her chart-topping hits, has also ventured into the fashion and beauty industry with her successful brand, Fenty Beauty.

3. Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney’s Net Worth: $1.2 Billion

As a founding member of The Beatles and a prolific solo artist, Sir Paul McCartney’s influence spans generations. His continual success in music, bolstered by investments in various ventures like MPL Ventures and plant-based food companies, underscores his enduring legacy.

Legacy: As a former member of The Beatles, Paul McCartney’s influence on music is immeasurable. His solo career has also contributed to his wealth.

4. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s Net Worth: $1.1 Billion

Taylor Swift’s meteoric rise to fame has been matched only by her shrewd business acumen. With a record-breaking tour and strategic ventures in concert films, Swift has diversified her revenue streams while maintaining her dominance in the music industry.

Recent Milestone: Taylor Swift crossed the billion-dollar mark in net worth in October, officially becoming a billionaire musician.

See also: The world’s most beautiful women.

5. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Net Worth: $1 Billion

Sean Combs, alias Diddy, epitomizes versatility, excelling not only in rap music but also as a record producer and entrepreneur. With Bad Boy Records as his cornerstone, Diddy has amassed a fortune, complemented by ventures in wine and spirits.

6. Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett Net Worth: $1 Billion (At Time Of Death)

Jimmy Buffett’s musical legacy lives on, even after his passing, through his iconic songs and successful ventures. Leveraging his fan base, Buffett ventured into hospitality and entertainment, epitomizing the synergy between music and business.

7. Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert Net Worth: $850 Million

Herb Alpert’s enduring career as a trumpeter and singer has not only earned him accolades but also substantial wealth. With A&M Records as a cornerstone and ventures in art, Alpert’s multifaceted talents have solidified his status as a musical and entrepreneurial force.

8. Beyoncé

Beyoncé Net Worth: $800 Million

Beyoncé’s unparalleled talent as a performer is matched only by her astute business instincts. From her entertainment company, Parkwood Entertainment, to her successful apparel brand, Ivy Park, Beyoncé has diversified her portfolio while maintaining her reign as a music icon.

See also the details about Beyoncé net worth.

9. Bono

Bono’s Net Worth: $730 Million

Background: Bono, the lead vocalist of U2, has not only made a significant impact in the music industry but also through his philanthropic efforts.

Paul David Hewson, known as Bono, epitomizes longevity and success in the music industry. With U2’s global acclaim and strategic investments, including a stake in Facebook through Elevation Partners, Bono’s influence transcends music into the realm of business.

10. Madonna

Madonna’s Net Worth: $850 Million

Madonna, the undisputed queen of pop, continues to captivate audiences with her timeless hits and unparalleled stage presence. Leveraging her extensive touring and business ventures like Maverick Records, Madonna remains a powerhouse in both music and entrepreneurship.

Iconic Career: Madonna, often referred to as “The Undisputed Queen of Pop,” has been creating catchy lyrics and beats for over four decades. She holds the Guinness World Record for “Best Selling Female Recording Artist Of All Time”.

Remember that these net worth figures are estimates and subject to change. The music industry continues to evolve, and artists diversify their income streams beyond traditional avenues. These individuals have not only achieved immense success in their craft but have also made strategic financial moves to secure their places among the richest musicians in the world.

Related

From actors and singers to princes and those just born into fortune, here is a list of some of the worlds wealthiest children. While some of us were playing in the mud outside and crossing our fingers to pass those mid terms, these kids had a whole different life agenda. Read on to find out more about some of these incredibly talented, fortunate, and wealthy kids.

See Also: 10 Things Rich People Do That You Don’t

10 Jaylen Bledsoe

Jaylen Bledsoe is a child genius who, at the age of 17, is already the CEO of his own IT company by the name of Jaylen D. Bledsoe Group. The company was last valued at 3.5 million dollars and aims to partner with big brands and celebrities to promote and expand their brand names. Since then he has also started the ‘Young Entrepreneur University program for teenagers. Through this program Jaylen uses his success to inspire other teenagers like himself and to expose them to the world of entrepreneurship. Some of his biggest partnerships include K Swiss and AT&T as well as a broad range of celebrities such as Steve Harvey. The rapid growth of his IT company lead him into the life of internet sensation. His goal in life, as listed on his website and stated in a number of interviews, is to be the main source of digital strategy and development for celebrities and Fortune 500 companies. With his innovation and passion, his net worth will only go up from here.^[1]

9 Rico Rodriguez

Born in 1998 in Texas USA, Rico rose to fame for his role in the hit television show, Modern Family for which he earns a huge $70,000 dollars per episode. He moved to Los Angeles with his family at the age of six so his older sister (11) could chase her dream of an acting career and despite his initial disinterest, it is clear that the big city grew on him. While his sister was starring in the Disney series, Austin and Ally, Rico was working his way to stardom. His debut role was an ice cream kid prankster on Jimmy Kimmel Live which he did for almost a year before appearing in several series such as Cory in the House, iCarly and NCIS. The role that really lead him to stardom and riches however, was his role as Manny Delgado in the world renowned ABC show, Modern Family. Since landing the part in 2009 he has been nominated for a number of Screen Actors Guild Awards and Teen Choice Awards. His estimated net worth is around 7 million.^[2]

8 Elle Fanning

Also born in 1998, Elle Fanning is among the richest children of the world. Her small fortune began growing when, at the the age of three, she played the role of a younger version of her sister, Dakota Fanning’s, character in the hit film ‘I am Sam’. She again played baby Dakota in the film, Taken, before finally landing her first independent role as Jamie in Daddy Day Care. This was just the start of her career. Her biggest roles to date have been in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Super 8, We Bought a Zoo and Maleficent.

Unlike most child actors, Elle was often hired for older, more mature characters due to her height and incredible acting abilities. This talent has lead her to many awards including a Hollywood Film Festival Award and a Phoenix Film Critics Society Award; both of which she was awarded at the age of thirteen! She has also been nominated for a Saturn Award, Teen Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild Award. Most children at that age are gunning for sports trophies let alone world renowned acting awards! Her net worth is estimated to be around 5 million.^[3]

7 Jayden Smith

The third child millionaire born in 1998, Jayden Smith, is the son of the world famous Will Smith. Like his father, his riches come from his music and acting careers. His first television debut was in The Pursuit of Happyness where he starred alongside his father and his first independent films were The Karate Kid and The Day the Earth Stood Still. Following these incredible hits he starred again with his father in After Earth. Being born into a family of actors, Jayden was destined for the spotlight however after his film debut he turned down a path of music.

His music career began with a collaboration with Justin Bieber on the track, Never Say Never before he branched out on his own to release his debut album, Syre. The album also features younger sister Willow Smith and ASAP Rocky and peaked at number 24 on the charts. His latest estimated net worth is at 8 million and rising. It will be very interesting to see where the little Smith will take his fortune next, though most recently he has launched a new venture: a vegan food truck for the homeless!^[4]

6 Abigail Breslin

Born in New York City in 1996, Abigail Breslin is yet another child star who has made it onto the list of the richest children in the world. Her first ever appearance on the television screen was at the age of three in a Toys “R” Us Advertisement and has starred in many big name movies since. Her biggest achievement, however, was her role in Little Miss Sunshine for which she receive a Best Actress Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. She is, to date, one of the youngest actresses to ever be nominated for an Academy Award. Two years later, in 2008, she was was named ShoWest’s Female Star of Tomorrow, before making her debut on Broadway.

Aside from her stardom on the screen, she has also composed a number of songs including Christmas in New York, You Suck and Hurricane. On top of this she has penned a book called This May Sound Crazy which discusses the topics of love, loss and Tumblr from the prospective of this incredibly talented all rounder. Why choose one career when you can have them all?

Her net worth is currently estimated at 16 million.^[5]

5 Valentina Paloma Pinault

Born in 2007, Valentina Paloma Pinault was born to billionaire businessman Francois-Henri Pinault and Hollywood star Salma Hayek. It is therefore a no brainer that she was destined for fortune and fame. Her ancestry of French and Mexican lead her to grow up fluently speaking three languages which is an accomplishment in itself and thanks to her parents, she has also been in the spotlight since before she was even born. Just last year, her mother shared a video through social media in which she let her daughter give her a a bob haircut attracting even more attention to the already spotlighted family. Despite being branded as a mini-me version of her mother, the world is still left wondering whether she will use her confidence to follow in her mothers footsteps down a road to Hollywood, or if she will become a businesswoman and work alongside her father. It’s a question only time will answer.

For now her net worth is estimated at 12 million, and that is before even beginning a career.^[6]

4Nick D’Aloisio

At the age of 15, Nick D’Aloisio created the app Summly, which summarises and condenses recent news articles into a format that can be quickly and easily read. Two years later, the app was purchased by Yahoo for 30 million dollars making Nick one of the youngest millionaires in the world. After selling his app design to them, Nick was then hired to work as a product manager of Yahoo News Digest where he went on to win an Apple Design Award.

Despite having enough money to comfortably retire at the age of 17, Nick left his career at Yahoo to study Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford University. During these studies he took up work as an Entrepreneur in Residence for AirBnb and has announced the later release of a new project he is working on which has raised 30 million in investments already. Exciting stuff to come from this little genius.

His current net value is at 30 million. Surely this will rapidly change after the release of his newest project.^[7]

3 Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead

Born in 2006, thirteen year old Dannielynn is the only surviving child of her late mother Anna Nicole Smith who was well known for her modelling and reality tv personality. At the time of her birth, drama and tabloids struck the family as her step brother passed away and a court case was opened up regarding several individuals who claimed to be the girls father. Five months after her birth, her mother passed away from a prescription drug overdose and she was awarded custody to her DNA proven biological father, photographer Larry Birkhead. Her small fortune did not however come from being in the spotlight of a long winded paternity battle. Instead it came as her biological father organised for her to get ownership of her mothers estate . This made her one of the youngest millionaires in the world. At the age of six she began walking in her mothers footsteps as she worked as a model for Guess Kids. She has also appeared in many talk shows such as Entertainment Tonight as the world follows her extremely controversial life.

Her net worth is at 10 million, most of which was inherited from her mothers estate.^[8]

2Moulay Hassan

Born in 2003, Moulay Hassan is the crown prince of Morocco. He became an internet sensation after attending the One Planet Summit with his father at the age of 14. He was the youngest royal to attend the event and held himself with great stature while greeting kings from all over the world. The moderator at the summit made special mention to Hassan as he expressed his delight in the young royals engagement in the sustainable development program. He is definitely a royal to look out for in the future with his strong engagement already peaking in international news. Not only will his title build on his fortune, but he also wishes to study aviation after graduating from school. Certainly a boy with a mission.

Hassan has an estimated net worth of 1 billion dollars which will rapidly increase after he takes the throne.^[9]

1 Prince George Alexander Louis

Born in 2013 Prince George Alexander Louis is yet another little royal to make it into the list of the worlds wealthiest children. At only the age of 6 he already has reached a fortune most of us could only imagine in our wildest dreams. He is the son of Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and is third in line to the throne of Great Britain and the UK behind his father and grandfather. His birth made international news and was highly anticipated all across the globe to the point where reporters were camped out around the hospital waiting for the news. Ever since then, his face has appeared in tabloids and newspapers following the story of his family and the mischief that he and his younger siblings get up to. He might be royalty and a billionaire at the age of 6 but he is still only a kid.

Prince George Alexander Louis’ net worth is estimated at a huge 3.6 billion. Needless to say, this little boy has some mighty big shoes to fill and the whole world will be watching as he learns to walk the royal way.^[10]

Forget about Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez, and Beyonce—dog influencers are taking over the Instagram spotlight. Just like big celebrities, the dogs of Instagram maintain their wealth and elite status through sponsorships, event appearances, modeling, and more.

It starts with a brand approaching the owner to form a partnership. Once a dog’s account reaches one million followers, the owner should expect a payout of up to $16,000 per post. According to Brittany Hennessy, senior director of influencer strategy at Hearst Digital Media, the average rate for a human influencer with over a million followers sits at a mere $7,500.

Ready to quit your day job yet?

Stay tuned, we’ve only scratched the surface of this modern-day phenomenon. With the Internet and social media culture nowadays, the possibilities in this field are endless. Here are the top 10 dogs on social media that make more money than doctors.

10 Weird Facts About Dogs

10 @lacorgi

According to this corgi’s page, he’s a “professional butt model” based in Los Angeles. His strengths include eating cheese, playing dead, and teleportation. His weakness is his extremely short legs.

Perusing his profile, you’ll find him frolicking in the sand, cruising in a mini convertible, playing the piano, and managing his bank account like the financially responsible dog that he is. My personal favorite: his take on an episode of Law & Order which tragically ends in his imprisonment. The orange jumpsuit was cute, though.^[1]

9 @maggielovesorbit

This dynamic duo consists of two Boston terrier sisters who “believe in making every moment count.” They are not only the stars of their account on Instagram but also have a website that features their weekly health and wellness blog.

Additionally, the dogs are Amazon affiliates, meaning they have a page on Amazon where you can purchase their favorite products. They receive a portion of the profits. Plus, these terriers are available for dog modeling.^[2]

8 @tuckerbudzyn

Do you follow this golden retriever on TikTok?

That’s right, Instagram isn’t the only platform on which this dog is famous. Tucker even has an account on Reddit. Upon further investigation, some of his favorite activities include eating raw beef, pretending to be a lion, and “sliding into your DMs.”

Tucker is most famous for videos of his owner blowing a powerful air hose at him, causing his long hair to flow in the wind while music plays. It’s only a matter of time before Pantene recruits him to be in one of their commercials. With over 12 million combined followers, this retriever isn’t afraid to use his all-natural gourmet meals to flex on you.^[3]

7 @tunameltsmyheart

Tuna the chiweenie proves to be a positive role model for dogs and humans alike. Despite his facial deformity, he spreads “joy & laughter” to every one of his two million followers.

His Instagram profile features one of his seemingly psychotic episodes in which he runs in circles and lunges at his owner, trying to grab a sloth toy. He is also seen wearing a homemade leaf helmet, listening to John Legend, and eating tortilla chips in honor of “National Tortilla Chip Day.”

If you’d like to accompany him on his journey around the world, you can follow his second account, @thetravelingtuna. And if that’s not enough, follow his third account, @moretuna, which focuses on his caring, philanthropic side.^[4]

6 @tecuaniventura

We have no idea how to pronounce this bulldog’s name, but we do know that he can rock any outfit on the planet. From cowboy to ballerina to Chewbacca from Star Wars, this dog has a bigger salary than you and a bigger wardrobe.

Does it have 50 different personalities or just enjoy fashion a little too much? Unfortunately, we’ll never know. Tecuani appears to speak Russian. According to Google Translate, his bio tells us that he is a “bulldog blogger [who] dreams to lose weight.”^[5]

10 Extraordinary Dogs That Saved Lives

5 @jiffpom

Feel free to text this dog at 310-438-5114. With a whopping 10 million followers on Instagram alone, he’d better be on an unlimited phone plan. His most recent video shows him dancing to a song featuring the popular rapper Nicki Minaj. One characteristic that sets this dog apart is his excessive fluffiness. His enormous Afro makes him an icon.

Unlike his counterparts, Jiff is a dog of few words. Many of his captions consist of just emojis. When you have a face that cute, you must not need all the bells and whistles.^[6]

4 @marniethedog

Let us have a moment of silence for this next dog. Marnie, who passed away “painlessly & peacefully” in March 2020, has nearly two million loyal Instagram followers. On her profile, you can view her highlight reels titled “R.I.P.” and “R.I.P. #2.”

She lived a long, eventful life and was known for her floppy tongue that hung uncontrollably out of her mouth. Scrolling through her pictures, you may notice pop artist Demi Lovato, tongue out, posed with Marnie.^[7]

3 @bronsonthebully

The best thing about this dog is his COVID-19 relief fundraiser. It’s good to know that he’s doing his part to flatten the curve. His favorite foods are carrots and watermelon, and his theme song is “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus.

Bronson’s bio describes him as a “cuddly, loving, goofy sack of potatoes!” Whether he’s a potato or a bulldog, catch him this summer at PETCON 2020 in Chicago. Yes, PETCON is a real thing where certain pets are paid to make appearances.

Along with many others, this influencer is managed by The Dog Agency, a New York City company that represents popular pet figures around the globe. The Dog Agency offers their connections with prominent news outlets and media platforms to cater to pet influencers and facilitate their growth.^[8]

2 @itsdougthepug

This pug influencer can be seen with over 30 celebrities including Katy Perry, Amy Schumer, Michael Strahan, Shakira, and the cast of Stranger Things. Products from Doug’s clothing line are available on his website or at Claire’s. Complement your pug sweatshirt with Doug the Pug Skechers, or pick up Doug’s book at The Scholastic Store.

What’s that song on the radio? Oh, that was Doug’s song, “Song for My Dog,” streaming from Spotify.

According to his Instagram bio, Doug is the “King of Pop Culture” and a “People’s Choice Award Winner.” Although it sounds a little suspicious, he did, in fact, win the People’s Choice Award for Animal Star of 2019. Many animals were nominated, but Doug reigned supreme. His acceptance speech was heartfelt.^[9]

1 @griffinfrenchie

These may not be the most popular pups on Instagram, but they’re number one when it comes to dog autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). French bulldogs Griffin and Haru specialize in snorting and smacking their lips loudly into microphones for their viewers’ listening pleasure.

On their YouTube channel, they have food reviews in which fans can gauge how much the dogs enjoyed the meal by the intensity and volume of their snorting noises. They also partake in “mukbang.” According to Urban Dictionary, mukbang is a trend that involves “eating copious amounts of food” on camera for “entertainment purposes.”

So, put on your headphones, sit back, and relax while you listen to two French bulldogs scarf down an entire rotisserie chicken.^[10]

Top 10 Fascinating Facts About The Mind Of A Dog

They say, “Every pro was once an amateur, every expert was once a beginner…” It is true: no one can reach the top of fame and success in a day, and no one can become a millionaire in a short time. Hollywood, especially, is an industry, where even the most talented struggle a lot to leave a mark. Some of the most remarkable names of Hollywood today had to start from the basic levels. They may be multi-millionaires, but at one point of time in their career, they were just extras. So let us take a look at the inspiring stories of some of the Richest Hollywood Actors Who Started as Extras.

10. Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum has won the world with his killer dance moves, amazing physique and cute smile, and his performances so far display a promising career in Hollywood. But, before he became everyone’s favourite, he started with small acting gigs. Of his extra parts, one in which he was noticeable was the background role in the church scene of War of the Worlds. An accomplished dancer, Tatum was seen in the video of Ricky Martin’s She Bangs. His net worth is $14 millions.

9. Renee Zellweger

Everyone knows that Renee Zellweger had to struggle in her early days, fighting her way through an abusive family, as she established herself as one of the most accomplished actors in Hollywood. Her struggle in Hollywood began with bit parts. She was credited as “Girl in Blue Pickup Truck” for her role in Dazed and Confused, while her part in My Boyfriend’s Back was cut. She worked in commercials in Texas, where she obtained her SAG membership. It is commendable that she never gave up, and landed meaty roles like Bridget Jones or Roxie Hart. Her net worth is 60 million.

9. Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck is one of the heart-throbs of Hollywood, ruling over the fans with his youthfulness and great looks, combined with great acting. He began his career at the same time as his close friend since childhood, actor Matt Damon. He began his career with small roles as an extra, who appeared in Field of Dreams in 1989, seen with his friend, in the scenes at Fenway Park. With Damon, he rose to fame with Good Will Hunting, leaving behind the days of small roles. His net worth is $75 million.

7. Matt Damon

Matt Damon is quite a Hollywood sweetheart, and has built himself quite a large fan base with his youthful charm. Before he became such a heartthrob, he was worked as an extra. He began his career with his close friend Ben Affleck. He appeared as one of the extras in the film Field of Dreams in 1989, in the scenes at Fenway Park. However, he has managed to almost completely erase that from his curriculum vitae after the movie Good Will Hunting. His current net worth is $75 million.

6. Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan is one of the most popular names in the world of cinema today, and his is one of the most famous Asian actors. His actions and comic timing attract people of all ages. But before he took to the roles of a funny Kung Fu artist, he used to work as an extra in the films of another famous martial artist, Bruce Lee, taking part in the fight scenes. His first works were in Fists of Fury in 1971 and Enter the Dragon in 1973. Chan eventually established himself. His net worth his $130 million.

5. George Clooney

Everybody loves George Clooney, his panache, his salt and pepper look, and his presence. This evergreen actor had a phase in his life where he had to resort to doing background work and small parts, his earliest work being in the miniseries regarding Colorado’s economic growth in 1978, after which he got to say small lines in a cop drama. Over time, his lines increased in TV shows like Roseanne or Sisters, after which he finally landed ER. Now, this superstar’s net worth is $160 million.

4. Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood is one of the most respected actors and directors, and his contribution to the industry is immense. This celebrated personality began his career back in the 1950s, when he did background works in films. His work went uncredited, unnoticed and unappreciated. He used to get the work as an unknown extra through Central Casting. He then started getting speaking parts, for which he was credited. Today, he is a powerful Hollywood name, with a net worth of $375 million.

3. Brad Pitt

One of the most sought after actors of Hollywood, Brad Pitt is known for his handsome looks and great talent. He is a household name for his off-screen activities, as well. But he started at the bottom, too, with his part in the 1987 flick Less Than Zero as one of his earlier works, for which he was credited as the “Partygoer/Preppie Guy at Fight.” He managed to pick himself from there and went on to one of the most well-known names today, and his net worth is $240 million.

2. Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe, the original “Candle in the Wind” who is still considered one of the most iconic actresses of Hollywood, noted for her timeless beauty, dared to enter the industry when one needed a lot of hard work. She began as a model, which eventually led her to get small one-liners in the films. In the 1948 flick, Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! she said “Hi!” to a main character, as shared a canoe with the another actress. Over time, she became evergreen. Her net worth is $27 million.

1. Sylvester Stallone

The adorable hunk with an innocent face, Sylvester Stallone, has found a place in everyone’s hearts with his most notable role as Rocky Balboa. It is a film that he himself wrote, but while writing it, he had work as an extra in films to pay his bills. He played the subway mugger in Woody Allen’s Bananas in 1971, and ignorable character in 1971 film Klute for which he wasn’t even credited. With the release of Rocky, e eventually became a new brand, and his current net worth is $275 million.

All these actors and many more Hollywood celebrities took on small roles during times of need. They knew that no part is small, and chose not to waste their time spent on the sets. Instead, they established connections with producers and directors, and continued networking, while learning the nuances of working in a movie at the same time. Eventually, they became more and more memorable, until each one of them bagged the Hollywood dream that they had in their eyes.

We all know who the richest men in the world are, but we seldom hear about the richest women. So, it is time to put that right! This is a list of the ten richest women in the world.

1. Liliane Bettencourt Wikipedia

At the age of 83, Liliane Bettencourt is the wealthiest woman in the world and is the 12th richest person overall. She has a net worth estimated at $20.7 billion made possible through the family business, a little company called L’Oreal. She is the daughter of L’Oreal founder Eugene Schueller and holds a controlling stake in the cosmetics giant so is likely to make even more money in the future.

2. Christy Walton Wikipedia

Christy Walton, 51, is the widow of John Walton, the Wal-Mart heir who died in an aircraft accident in June 2005. She inherited $15.9 billion (£8.4 billion) from the company originally founded by Sam Walton, making her the wealthiest woman in the United States. Wal-Mart is still the world’s largest retailer with more than 5,100 stores serving 138 million customers a week and ringing up sales of $285 billion (£151 billion). All of which makes Christy the 24th richest person in the world.

3. Alice Walton Wikipedia

As one would expect, the Waltons have deep family ties. Alice, 56, is the sister of the late John Walton and her fortune of $16.6 billion puts her at number 26 in the world’s rich list. Her brother Rob serves as chairman and the company donates a small fortune to charity through the Walton Family Foundation.

4. Abigail Johnson Wikipedia

As the 42nd richest person in the world, Abigail Johnson’s $13 billion inheritance comes from Fidelity Investments, America’s largest mutual fund company. The firm was founded by her grandfather Edward C. Johnson in 1946. Abigail, 45, interned at Fidelity while pursuing a Harvard MBA and returned full-time in1988. She became president of the company’s mutual fund division in 2001, and picked up $31 billion (£16.4 billion) in fund assets during her first six months. In May 2006 she took over Fidelity’s employer services division, administering payroll and employee stock plans.

5. Anne Cox Chambers Wikipedia

Anne, 86, inherited $12.6 billion (£6.6 billion) from the family media firm Cox Enterprises. Her father James Cox’s empire includes 17 newspapers, 15 TV stations, 79 radio stations and also cable systems. The business also runs to cars, including Manheim Auctions, America’s leading used-car auction business and majority ownership of AutoTrader.com, the world’s largest online auto classifieds site. Last year the family took cable arm Cox Communications private in an $8 billion (£4.2 billion) deal. She is the world’s 45th richest person.

6. Birgit Rausing Wikipedia

Dr Birgit Rausing is a Swedish art historian. Together with her three children, she inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval in January 2000 after her husband Gad Rausing’s death. As of 2007, her net worth is about $11 billion.

7. Jacqueline Mars Wikipedia

Jacqueline Badger Mars is the daughter of Forrest Edward Mars, Sr., and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, founders of the giant American candy company Mars, Incorporated. With her share of the company, she is worth US$14.0 billion as of September 2007 she is the 58th richest person in the world, and the 19th richest person in the United States according to Forbes, she’s also the fourth richest American woman.

8. Susanne Klatten Wikipedia

Ms. Klatten, 43, picked up $8.1 billion (£4.3 billion) via a 12.5% stake in BMW cars and a 50.1% stake in pharmaceutical manufacturer Altana from her late father, Herbert Quandt. A trained economist with an MBA, Klatten is credited with helping transform Altana into a world-class pharmaceutical/chemical corporation with $3.6 billion (£1.9 billion) in sales and almost 11,000 employees. As of 2007, her net worth is $9.6 billion.

9. Yang Huiyan Wikipedia

Yang Huiyan is the majority shareholder of Country Garden Holdings and is currently considered the wealthiest person in Mainland China, with a net worth of about $9 billion USD as of April 2007. She is the daughter of Yang Guoqiang, who transferred 70% of Country Garden’s shares to her before its IPO.

10. Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler Wikipedia

Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler is joint owner with her son Georg of The Schaeffler Group, one of the world’s largest producers of roller bearings. Maria Elizabeth runs the company, which brought in about $11 billion last year. Her net worth in 2007 is $8.7 billion.

Contributor: nartjai

Technorati Tags: rich, women

Billionaires pride themselves on their bold new ideas, which is probably why people accept them. In the areas that actually matter, however, ideas have been scarce for a long time. Mostly, billionaires are self-serving children with the power to follow their dreams — however ludicrous. Here are ten of the stupidest plans the super-rich are pursuing right now.

10. Munger Hall

In 2016, living dead billionaire Charles Munger made headlines for designing a student “mega-dorm” that architects have described as an experiment in human torture, and “a jail masquerading as a dormitory”. The 11-story building, proposed for UC Santa Barbara and nicknamed “Dormzilla”, is meant to house an incredible 4,500 students. But Munger, who proudly claimed never to have read a single book on architecture, included very few windows. Bedrooms might as well be underground; instead of windows, they have artificial sunlight from screens.

He told reporters that his design was cutting-edge, but one architect who resigned in protest from the college’s design review committee called it “unsupportable” from the perspective of “a parent and a human being”. It is, he said, a “social and psychological experiment.” Munger doesn’t deny it. In fact, he said the bedrooms aren’t meant to be comfortable; they’re meant to encourage students to spend more time together in the common areas. So it’s hardly pandemic-proof either. If Munger Hall were a city, it would be one of the most densely populated in the world — just behind Dhaka in Bangladesh. Per square mile, it would have 221,000 people.

What makes the billionaire’s plan even more sadistic is he bribed the college to accept it, offering a $200 million endowment on the condition that they build Munger Hall. Approached for comment, the university said they were “delighted” with the building — as if with a gun to their head and totally ignoring reports from inhabitants of a similar dormitory also designed by Munger and opened at the University of Michigan in 2015. “It was terrible,” one said, “The lack of windows was depressing … [there is] “no sense of time if you’re just in your room with no natural light.” Also mentioned were the damp, moldy bathrooms.

9. Seasteading

Years before he funded Donald Trump’s run for office, Peter Thiel — whose concept of libertarianism apparently puts a despot in charge — invested his money in seasteading, a deceptively quaint-sounding term for manmade tax havens at sea. In 2008, he put up $1.7 million in seed capital for the Seasteading Institute, a board of billionaire fantasists frustrated by taxes. It took him almost a decade to realize his folly. In 2017 he told the New York Times (who, like the rest of us, presumably already knew) that we don’t have the means to build cities at sea, hundreds of miles from shore — at least not without spending all his riches. 

But the Institute continues without him. Instead of bankrupting themselves to evade all human governments, they’ll erect their monstrous, platform-based Waterworld cities in French Polynesia instead. Of course, this means they’ll have to submit to its laws whether they like it or not. But laws affecting business and trade (i.e. taxes) they’ll be exempt from, having pressured the government to create a special economic zone just for them.

It’s still a long way off, though. For now, the billionaires remain landlocked  while they figure out how to build an island that won’t dissolve within decades. Apparently seawater poses a problem.

8. xAI

In July 2023, Elon Musk announced on Twitter the formation of his new company, xAI, saying the purpose was “to understand reality.” Apparently, like most billionaires and transhumanists, Musk needs all the help he can get. Researchers recruited to the endeavor were drawn from other top companies in the AI field, such as DeepMind, Google, and OpenAI. 

Co-founder Greg Yang, whose past employers include Apple, Google, and Microsoft, hopes xAI will take artificial intelligence “to the next level” by “developing the ‘theory of everything’ for large neural networks”. Beyond that, details are scarce. According to the website, “the goal of xAI is to understand the true nature of the universe,” which Musk later phrased as “what the hell is really going on.” But there’s no explanation as to why he thinks computers can tell him. As Douglas Adams realized decades ago, we’re unlikely to understand the answer so it may as well just be 42.

Investors in his other company, Tesla, apparently want as little to do with xAI as possible. Musk made a point of saying that while xAI plans to use Tesla’s silicon computer chips, and possibly some software, “any relationship with Tesla has to be an arms-length transaction because Tesla [has] … a different investor base.” That’s corporate talk for “even my investors think this is stupid.”

7. Stealing Patagonia

British billionaire Joe Lewis made his fortune speculating against the British pound and Mexican peso. In the nineties, he used it to buy up more than 10,000 hectares of Patagonia, including Lake Escondido, which, breaking Argentinian law stating all bodies of water are public, he still keeps off-limits to Argentinians. 

So far, the government has failed to liquidate his locally registered shell company, Hidden Lake SA, which he set up solely to get around the law banning foreigners from buying certain land. It offers no goods or services whatsoever. Meanwhile, Lewis’s armed thugs continue to block Argentinians’ access to the lake — effectively enforcing the borders of Lewis’s “parallel state”. He’s also bribed officials and the press to keep his paradise private.

Needless to say, what makes the plan stupid is Lewis’s belief — typical of billionaires — that legal loopholes and paid-for politicians can protect him from ordinary Argentinians. They regularly march onto his land, often provoking violent confrontation, so it’s a battleground waiting to happen. The almost-90-year-old also naively failed to cover his back against countries he’s screwed in the past. At the time of writing, he faces jail in New York for insider trading and, pending sentencing, is not allowed to travel abroad.

6. Titanic II

Australia’s Donald Trump, the shamelessly self-promoting real estate and mining billionaire Clive Palmer, is an oddity among his class. Instead of fixating on our techno-industrial future, he’s far more fixated on the past. In recent years, he’s resurrected dinosaurs (in the world’s largest animatronic dino safari park, which burned down in 2015); thought about bringing back commercial airship flights (like the Hindenburg); and planned to build a life-size replica of the Titanic. His company, Blue Star Line, plans to make only one minor change to the original: adding a few meters width for “additional stability”. But otherwise the ship will be the same. Titanic II will be exactly as long as the original; it’ll have the same three passenger classes, restaurants, facilities, and decor; and it will stop at all the same ports. It might even hit the same iceberg.

Of course, Palmer isn’t the first to think up this plan. It’s already been shelved many times — not least because an exact replica of the Edwardian ocean liner wouldn’t pass modern regulations. The ship’s interior would need a redesign for safety (new stairways, doors, cabin arrangements, etc.), and it would be irresponsible not to use modern shipping technologies. Obviously coal power would be an issue. 

Basically, it couldn’t be the same ship — so why bother at all? Even an exact replica would lack the original spirit. Despite its name, Titanic II (or Gigantic as an earlier plan called it), would be dwarfed by modern equivalents — it’s not the biggest ship ever built any more. Neither is crossing the Atlantic the adventure that it was before air travel. As one critic points out, “to be the latest in transportation, a new ship would need to be a rocket.”

5. The Line

Since it was announced in 2021, Neom, the “Saudi Arabian City of the Future” has drawn criticism from experts worldwide — especially for the so-called Line at its core. Calling to mind other megastructure vanity projects, like Tokyo’s proposed Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid, the Line remains laughably impractical — if not impossible. 

Although the psychopathic, narcissistic crown prince bin Salman is proud of his involvement in the project, it was actually his contribution that made it so unworkable. Namely, he took someone else’s idea of a city in a strip 2,000 meters wide and narrowed it down to 200 — so you can “feel it”, he said. And feel it people would. One of the main criticisms leveled at the Line is its basic unliveability.

But construction on The Line is under way regardless. As of last year, there’s a 200-meter-wide trench slicing through the pristine northwest of the otherwise oil-ravaged nation. Apparently liveability isn’t a concern; before commencing work at the site, the prince’s thugs evicted the locals and sentenced them to death.

4. Asgardia

In 2022 Azerbaijani billionaire Igor Ashurbeyli was re-elected Head of Asgardia, the “world’s first space nation”. His inauguration, which took place in a virtual rendering of Asgardia’s National Ark, was live streamed on his website for Asgardians worldwide. For now, the space nation remains here on Earth. In other words, it doesn’t exist. All it has in space is a Rubik’s cube sized mini-satellite in Low Earth Orbit. However, the dream is to build the Ark, get it in orbit, and facilitate the first childbirth in space. This is the mission for now. Later, Igor and his fellow Asgardians (who number more than a million) hope to grant citizenship and space-residency to 2% of Earth’s population and become one of its twelve strongest economies.

You may not have heard of it, but Asgardia was founded in 2016 and has some pretty serious people on board — including renowned Hong Kong space law professor Yun Zhao (Asgardia’s Supreme Justice), British Member of Parliament Lembit Öpik (Asgardia’s Chairman of Parliament), and European Space Agency veteran Lena de Winne (Asgardia’s Prime Minister). 

Unfortunately, despite its utopian vision, Asgardia’s Constitution reads more like a blueprint for dystopia. Even the freedom of speech is strictly conditional on upholding “Supreme Values”, national security, keeping secrets, and individuals’ “honour”. The scientocracy, which frowns on all “unenlightened” thinking, plans to regulate the flow of information, conduct parliamentary sessions in secret from citizens, and give sweeping despotic powers to Ashurbeyli himself. If that floats your boat (or Ark), it is, unsurprisingly, easy to hop aboard by registering your interest online.

3. The Metaverse

Although it’s still not clear what the plan is, Mark Zuckerberg’s not done with the Metaverse. Despite claims of its abandonment, his specially renamed umbrella company, Meta, continues to work on the frustratingly vague idea. Even employees are sick of Zuckerberg’s airy-fairy, whim-driven approach. As Wired observed in 2023, substituting the word ‘metaverse’ for ‘cyberspace’ in literally anything he says about his “plan” makes no difference to the meaning whatsoever. Because there isn’t much meaning to begin with. 

In essence, the Metaverse is a virtual reality hellscape through which Zuckerberg hopes to extract even more of your data and money. Like the internet, it would be accessed through a range of devices. And, also like the internet (at its worst, at least), it’ll track you from one to the other. This is really the point. It’s a Facebookification of the internet. No more hiding — not if this kind of thing appeals to you, anyway.

Of course, that’s a fairly bog standard blueprint for any tech startup. So what does Meta’s Metaverse actually offer? Is it, as Zuckerberg’s video ads imply, the ability to visit your friends in the real world as a hologram? No, because the technology doesn’t exist. Is it, as he originally promised, the ability “to do almost anything you can imagine”? Nope, unless all you can imagine doing is virtual, with screens strapped to your eyes. So is it basically Second Life? Pretty much! Just with extra bullying, if Facebook and Meta’s flagship VR platform Horizon are anything to go by, which of course they are. As it stands, though, all the Metaverse really is is a placeholder for an actual idea.

2. Calico Labs

Billionaires are well into life extension, but this is nothing new. What is new is their confidence in solving the “problem” of death (just like they solved the “problem” of taxes) within their own dwindling lifetimes. Announced in 2013, Larry Page’s Calico Labs, founded with money from Google, is the top company seeking a “cure”. The idea, Page said at the time of its launch, is “not just to make the world a little better, but a lot better.”

What’s questionable is whether extending the lifespan of the world’s most dangrous species would make the world better at all. There are many problems with life extension — ethical, ecological, social, economic, and so on. The most obvious is access; Larry Page and others already behave like modern-day pharaohs or living gods, enslaving the planet to bolster their power. How much further removed from the average human would they be if they were immortal? And how likely would they be to share that immortality given their hoarding of wealth? Even assuming they were philanthropic, is immortality something you’d want? Wouldn’t it be like staying awake without ever going to sleep (or staying asleep without ever waking up)?

Really, though, whether it’s for the few or for the many, human immortality would mean total control by the state. At the very least, reproduction would no longer be free. Other basic freedoms, such as thought (Minority Report style), would also be surveilled and restricted. Why? Because an immortal Larry Page and his fellow death-fearing technocrats would become so paranoid about preserving their thousand-plus-year life spans from accidental (or deliberate) termination, that every possible risk, including you, would have to be counted, vetted, and strictly surveilled.

1. The 2045 Initiative

We’ve talked about the 2045 Initiative before; it’s basically plan B for life extension: transferring human consciousness to artificial bodies. Since we first covered it, however — five years ago — very little progress has been made. For such a near-term goal (22 years left now), this lack of progress is terminal. The brainchild of Russian billionaire Dmitry Itskov, the Initiative’s original plan was to upload human consciousness to the cloud, networked virtual reality, or the ‘metaverse’ as some like to call it. Later, the focus changed to life in this world. 

However, the second of Itskov’s four project milestones, to transplant a human brain to a robotic body at the end of its natural life, is meant to be reached by 2025 — two years from the time of writing. The media tycoon hasn’t even reached his first milestone yet (deadlined for 2020), to successfully control a robotic replica of a human body via brain-computer interface (BCI). Although BCI technology is currently being worked on (not by Itskov), it’s nowhere near that level at present. The third milestone is transferring consciousness from human brains to artificial substitutes some time in the next 12 years. This is basically the goal, but there is one further step Itskov hopes to achieve: the fourth milestone, hologram-like avatars or “bodies of light” by 2045.

Transhumanists like Itskov point to the exponential development of technology to justify their ambitious time frames. According to Moore’s law, the power of computers doubles every year and a half. In other words, it’s a faith-based worldview — and it’s one based on just as fundamental a fallacy as any other new religious movement: the totally unfounded conviction that consciousness comes from the brain, from matter, as opposed to the other way round (as philosophers have told us for millennia and even physicists have now come to realize).

The 2045 Initiative isn’t completely detached from reality, though. What we are likely to see within the next two decades is a cult-like trend of unnecessary medical procedures whereby companies rake in billions substituting healthy human body parts for cybernetic hands, legs, eyes, and so on.

This is what happens when the kids are in charge.