The world’s billionaires added a significant amount of money to their stockpiles during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the 10 wealthiest people in the world doubled their net worth in the first two years. Now, billionaires are seeing their fortunes take a hit. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has lost more than half his net worth this year. These steep declines have made way for others to move up the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. We have the wealthy people climbing the ranks in this week’s Five for Friday:
#5: Harold Hamm
The American energy tycoon is the chairman of Continental Resources, the biggest shale oil producer in North Dakota and Montana. Skyrocketing energy prices have caused the company’s stock to soar up 50% so far this year. Hamm’s net worth is also on an upward trajectory, adding over $7 billion in 2022, ranking him No. 57 for wealthiest person on the planet.
#4: Alain & Gerard Wertheimer
French brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer are the co-owners of world renowned fashion and fragrance house Chanel. It would seem like troubling economic times would take a toll on luxury goods, but Chanel raked in $15.6 billion in revenue in 2021. The brothers Wertheimer have each added $8.5 billion to their net worths so far in 2022. That massive increase is enough to put them at 26 and 27 on Bloomberg’s list. Beyond Chanel, they also own a number of vineyards and race horses.
#3: Rodolphe Saadé
Logistics and shipping have been in huge demand in recent years. Rodolphe Saadé has been able to take advantage, more than doubling his fortune by adding $10.5 billion this year. He is the chair and chief executive of CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping company. Business is so good, CMA CGM made $66 billion in revenue for 2021. With all that success, Saadé has climbed the ranks to No. 89 on Bloomberg’s list.
#2: Guillaume Pousaz
Guillaume Pousaz has been in the payments and fintech sector since the mid-2000s. But he really struck it big during the pandemic with Checkout.com which saw its volume triple in 2020. Pousaz’s net worth jumped $11.7 billion this year with the website now valued at $40 billion. He’s now ranked No. 72 for richest human according to Bloomberg. Not bad for a guy who dropped out of college to surf.
#1: Gautam Adani
India’s wealthiest man just unseated Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as the world’s second richest person. He has nearly doubled his wealth this year to reach $150 billion. Adani was worth only $10 billion before the pandemic, but his power plants and ports became highly lucrative in recent years. Adani Enterprises stock has surged more than 1500% since the start of 2020.
