The concept of wealth has undergone significant evolution over the years. Generations ago, becoming a millionaire was a lofty dream for many Americans. Today, with millions of millionaires in the U.S. alone, it takes billionaire status to stand out truly. The question now is who will be the world’s first trillionaire?
Looking at the current richest individuals, the younger ones have a better shot at reaching trillionaire status. Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of $171 billion, and Elon Musk, with $219 billion, are among the frontrunners. However, Mark Zuckerberg, born in 1984, might have the best chance if he can grow his wealth by 10% annually. Yet, the scale of growth needed for his company, Meta, to propel him to a trillionaire is immense.
There are also dark horse candidates like Craig Venter, known for his groundbreaking work in genomics and synthetic biology. Although his focus on clean fuels might not make him a trillionaire, a major breakthrough, such as a cure for cancer, could change the game entirely. The U.S. spends billions annually on cancer care, making a cure a potentially multi-trillion-dollar opportunity.
Historical milestones in wealth show how quickly the unimaginable can become reality. When John D. Rockefeller became the first billionaire in 1916, it was a staggering achievement. Fast forward to 1999, Bill Gates became the first centibillionaire, a milestone that seemed unreachable just decades earlier. Today, a few individuals are poised to break the trillion-dollar mark within the next few years.
Research by Approve, a finance and procurement platform, predicts that some of today’s wealthiest individuals will reach trillionaire status soon. Elon Musk, with his rapid wealth growth, is expected to hit $1.38 trillion by 2024. Although Jeff Bezos was once forecasted to be the first, his trajectory now places him reaching $1.06 trillion by 2030, behind Musk.
Other potential trillionaires include Gautam Adani and Zhang Yiming. Zhang Yiming, founder of ByteDance, which owns TikTok, is projected to become a trillionaire by 2026 at the age of 43. Adani, with his diverse business empire in India, leverages his investments in renewable energy, oil, and gas to drive impressive growth.
As we look to the future, the race to become the first trillionaire is a fascinating watch. It’s not just about the money but about the innovations and transformations these individuals and their companies will bring. Whether it’s through technology, healthcare, or new energy sources, the journey to a trillion dollars will undoubtedly push the boundaries of what’s possible.