Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, has officially slipped to the third position on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as of July 21, 2025. This drop comes even though he added a staggering $40.3 billion (about KSh 5.22 trillion) to his net worth over the past 12 months.
Who Replaced Mark Zuckerberg as the Second Richest Man?
Zuckerberg was recently overtaken by Larry Ellison, the tech billionaire best known for founding Oracle Corporation. As of July 21, 2025, Ellison holds the second spot on the global rich list with an estimated net worth of $262 billion, surpassing Zuckerberg’s $248 billion.
Ellison’s wealth has grown by $70.1 billion year-to-date, thanks in part to Oracle’s strong performance and his diverse investment portfolio.
Who Is Larry Ellison?
Larry Ellison, now 80 years old, is a legendary figure in the technology world. He founded Oracle Corporation, one of the largest software companies in the world, known for its cloud computing and enterprise software products. Ellison is Oracle’s largest individual shareholder, owning over 40% of the company, which generated $53 billion in revenue for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024.
But Ellison’s wealth isn’t tied only to Oracle. He also owns significant stakes in:
- Tesla – the electric vehicle and clean energy company
- Indian Wells Masters – a premier tennis tournament
- SailGP Team USA – a professional sailing team
- Lanai Island, Hawaii – a luxurious private island
- Multiple real estate properties and luxury assets
These investments have helped him solidify his position as one of the wealthiest people on the planet.
Meta’s Continued Growth Still Boosts Zuckerberg’s Fortune
Even though Zuckerberg fell to third place, his personal fortune has seen tremendous growth over the past year. Meta Platforms continues to thrive with its dominance in social media and growing investments in AI and the metaverse. These developments have significantly contributed to the $40 billion rise in his net worth.
Meta’s stock performance has also been a key driver, buoyed by strong quarterly earnings and continued innovation in augmented reality, generative AI, and monetization of platforms like Instagram Reels and WhatsApp Business.
Who Are the 10 Richest Men in the World as of July 21, 2025?
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, here are the top ten richest people globally as of July 21:
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (USD) | Net Worth (KES) | Industry/Company |
| 1 | Elon Musk | $371 billion | KSh 48.05 trillion | Tesla, SpaceX, X (Twitter) |
| 2 | Larry Ellison | $262 billion | KSh 33.93 trillion | Oracle, Tesla, real estate |
| 3 | Mark Zuckerberg | $248 billion | KSh 32.09 trillion | Meta Platforms |
| 4 | Jeff Bezos | $247 billion | KSh 31.96 trillion | Amazon, Blue Origin |
| 5 | Steve Ballmer | $175 billion | KSh 22.66 trillion | Microsoft, LA Clippers |
| 6 | Larry Page | $167 billion | KSh 21.62 trillion | Google/Alphabet |
| 7 | Sergey Brin | $156 billion | KSh 20.20 trillion | Google/Alphabet |
| 8 | Bernard Arnault | $155 billion | KSh 20.07 trillion | LVMH (Luxury Goods) |
| 9 | Jensen Huang | $150 billion | KSh 19.43 trillion | Nvidia (AI & GPU Tech) |
| 10 | Warren Buffett | $143 billion | KSh 18.51 trillion | Berkshire Hathaway |
Elon Musk Remains the World’s Richest Man
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), remains the richest person in the world, with a fortune of $371 billion. His position has been bolstered by Tesla’s resurgence in the stock market and continued growth of SpaceX’s satellite and aerospace programs.
Musk’s AI and robotics ventures, including Optimus humanoid robots and neural interface technology under Neuralink, are also major contributors to investor optimism and his soaring net worth.
Mark Zuckerberg’s slip to the third-richest position doesn’t signal a setback—instead, it reflects just how competitive the billionaire rankings have become. Both he and Larry Ellison have seen enormous wealth gains in 2025. Meanwhile, the tech sector continues to drive personal fortunes to new highs, with AI, cloud computing, and social media leading the charge.
As market dynamics shift and innovation accelerates, it’s likely that these rankings will continue to evolve in the months ahead.
The Information is Collected from Yahoo Finance and MSN.
