Mark Zuckerberg surpasses Jeff Bezos to become world's 2nd-richest person
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the world's second-richest person. This information is based on the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which shows Zuckerberg's net worth at an impressive $206.2 billion in 2024. This figure exceeds Bezos's wealth by $1.1 billion and places Zuckerberg just behind Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk ($256 billion) in global rankings .
Zuckerberg's wealth increase outpaces other billionaires
Zuckerberg's wealth has seen a significant increase of $78 billion in 2024, a growth rate that surpasses any other individual on Bloomberg's index of the world's 500 wealthiest people. He owns 13% stake in Meta, equivalent to approximately 345.5 million shares of the company. This substantial rise is primarily attributed to Meta's outstanding performance in the stock market. The company's shares have experienced an almost 70% surge since the start of this year, contributing significantly to Zuckerberg's increased net worth.
Meta's strategic decisions and AI investments boost Zuckerberg's wealth
Meta's successful year, marked by strategic decisions and a robust core ad business, has played a crucial role in Zuckerberg's wealth increase. Investors have shown keen interest in Meta's substantial investments in artificial intelligence (AI), a factor that has significantly contributed to the company's revenue growth. "Meta has repeatedly boasted of its AI investments as a reason for its sales growth," noted one market analyst.
Meta's turnaround and new product launches bolster investor confidence
Meta's successful turnaround in 2024, following a challenging period in 2022, has helped restore investor confidence. The company's recent unveiling of its cutting-edge Orion AR glasses has also positively influenced investor sentiment. Despite investing heavily in virtual and augmented reality technologies, Meta's core advertising business remains strong. This reassures investors about the stability of the company's primary revenue sources.