With the 4th of July just around the corner, we take a look at the media moguls, tech giants and Wall Street traders that rank highest on America’s self-made billionaire rich list, as verified by wealth intelligence agency, Wealth-X.
1. Bill Gates
Net worth: US $80.2 billion
Fortune from: Technology
Company: Microsoft
Age: 58
Perhaps unsurprisingly, software giant Bill Gates tops our list. The Microsoft founder’s incredible wealth not only outstrips all other American billionaires, but has also landed Gates at the top of Forbes’ world rich list an incredible 15 times in the last 20 years. No wonder he’s smiling.
“If I'd had some set idea of a finish line, don't you think I would have crossed it years ago?”
2. Warren Buffett
Net worth: US $64.2 billion
Fortune from: Diversified Investments
Company: Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 83
Accumulating an enormous net worth through holding company Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett is the oldest self-made billionaire on our list – but it hasn’t stopped him cutting lucrative deals. Just last year, the entrepreneur bought out Ketchup-maker Heinz for $23bn, and looks set to continue his near century-long winning streak. His secret? Focusing on potential profits, not market euphoria.
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
3. Larry Ellison
Net worth: US $48.2 billion
Fortune from: Technology
Company: Oracle
Age: 69
After Microsoft, Oracle Corporation is the largest software manufacturer, and revenue generator, in the world. This has proven incredibly profitable for the company’s outspoken CEO, Larry Ellison, who boasts an eye watering net worth of nearly $50bn. But how do you spend such a vast fortune? Well, Ellison owns 98% of Hawaii’s Lanai Island and possesses at least two multi-million dollar military jets. We can think of worse purchases.
“I have had all of the disadvantages required for success.”
4. Michael Bloomberg
Net worth: US $33.7 billion
Fortune from: Media
Company: Bloomberg LP
Age: 72
As the former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg once rode the subway to work every day and received an annual remuneration of just $1. But he wasn’t left wanting. The self-made media mogul boasted a net worth in the billions long before his political career began; setting up the profitable financial data firm Bloomberg LP in 1982 – after being fired from Wall Street investment broker, Saloman Brothers. Needless to say, he’s never looked back.
“My experience is that you make your own luck. The harder you work, the luckier you get.”
5. Sheldon Adelson
Net worth: US $32.8 billion
Fortune from: Hospitality & Casinos
Company: Las Vegas Sands
Age: 80
Let this sink in. Last year, the chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands made an average of $37 million a day. That’s approximately $1.5 million an hour. Not too shabby for a high school dropout from a poor family, who had built and lost a multi-million dollar fortune twice before 30. Today, Sheldon Adelson is known as a Vegas hospitality giant, owning casinos and hotels across the globe.
“I look at every business and ask; how long can this last? How can I identify the status quo and change it?”
6. Larry Page
Net worth: US $31.3 billion
Fortune from: Technology
Company: Google
Age: 41
Before Larry Page, the phrase “I’ll Google it” would have been greeted with some very blank expressions. The search engine billionaire has accrued his substantial fortune over Google’s short, six-year history and is known across the business world for his progressive, non-conformist attitude. Now swallowing up competitors at an alarming rate, it looks as though Page’s fortune is only set to escalate. We’ll Google it next year.
“If you're changing the world, you're working on important things. You're excited to get up in the morning.”
7. Mark Zuckerberg
Net worth: US $30.9 billion
Fortune from: Technology
Company: Facebook
Age: 30
The youngest billionaire on our list (by some 10 years) is social network juggernaut, Mark Zuckerberg. At just 30 years of age, the Harvard dropout has already accumulated a staggering net worth of over $30bn and his life has been immortalised on the silver screen. Despite his incredible wealth, Zuckerberg was narrowly beaten to the ‘world’s youngest billionaire’ top spot by former Harvard roommate, Dustin Moskovitz – Facebook’s third employee.
“By giving people the power to share, we're making the world more transparent.”
8. Jeff Bezos
Net worth: US $30.5 billion
Fortune from: Technology
Company: Amazon
Age: 50
Last year, Jeff Bezos announced that Amazon could be delivering packages by drone within five years. It was risk taking and forward thinking like this that spurred the man to found a small online bookstore in 1995. This bookstore would grow exponentially over the next two decades, eventually becoming the Internet’s go-to marketplace, and earning Bezos an accumulated $30bn in the process.
“A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.”
9. Sergey Brin
Net worth: US $30.1 billion
Fortune from: Technology
Company: Google
Age: 40
As co-founder and director of special projects at Google, self-made man Sergey Brin is the second entry on our list from the world’s foremost search engine company – but certainly doesn’t shout about it. Adopting a more background role, Russian migrant Brin has been at Google from the start, profiting enormously from the company’s aggressive growth.
“We want Google to be the third half of your brain.”
10. Carl Icahn
Net worth: US $25.5 billion
Fortune from: Diversified investments
Company: Icahn Capital LP
Age: 78
Icahn by name, I can by nature. The most recent and significant announcement from billionaire hedge fund investor Carl Icahn is the purchase of a large stake in Apple and a wise trade on Netflix. Now the richest man on Wall Street, the college dropout began his stockbroking career in the early 60s, quickly developing a reputation as a ruthless ‘corporate raider’ – something that has kept his hefty bank balance in the green ever since.
“You learn in this business: if you want a friend, get a dog.”