In today's world, wealth and investment go hand in hand. The world's wealthiest people have made their fortunes through a variety of industries, from technology to retail. It's no surprise that these individuals also hold significant stock portfolios. Here are three of the wealthiest people and the stocks they own:
1. Bernard Arnault - LVMH (LVMHF)
Bernard Arnault is the CEO of LVMH, a multinational luxury goods conglomerate known for operating iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Christian Dior. As of 2023, Arnault is the wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of over $211 billion, according to the Forbes List of the wealthiest people in the world, and also the first person outside the US to have a net worth of over $200 billion.
Arnault and LVMH own a 40% stake in private equity firm L Catterton, which has $30 billion in assets including investments in Birkenstock and Equinox. The majority of Arnault's fortune is derived from a 97.5% stake in Christian Dior, the luxury fashion house.
LVMH is the largest luxury goods company in the world, owning brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Fendi. The company has continued to expand its portfolio, acquiring new brands and entering new markets. LVMH's stock has been on a steady upward trend in recent years, with the company's market capitalization reaching over $458 billion in 2023.
2. Elon Musk - Tesla (TSLA)
Elon Musk is the founder and CEO of Tesla, the electric vehicle and renewable energy company. As of 2023, Musk is the second-wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of over $180 billion. Elon Musk confounded six companies including electric car maker Tesla, rocket producer SpaceX and tunneling startup Boring Company. He owns about 23% of Tesla between stock and options, but has pledged more than half his stock as collateral for loans.
Twitter's board agreed to sell the company to Musk for $44 billion in April 2022, after he disclosed a 9.1% stake and threatened a hostile takeover. The deal closed in October 2022 after Musk tried to back out and Twitter sued. Musk now owns an estimated 74% of the company.
Tesla has been a major disruptor in the automotive industry, bringing electric vehicles to the mainstream. The company has continued to innovate, releasing new models and expanding into new markets. Tesla's stock has been on a wild ride in recent years, reaching all-time highs in 2020 and experiencing significant volatility, while currently having a market cap of $591.99 billion.
3. Jeff Bezos - Amazon (AMZN)
Jeff Bezos is the founder and former CEO of Amazon, the world's largest online retailer. As of 2023, Bezos is the third-wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of over $144 billion. Jeff Bezos founded e-commerce giant Amazon in 1994 out of his garage in Seattle, then later stepped down as CEO to become executive chairman in July 2021, and now he owns a bit less than 10% of the company.
Bezos also owns The Washington Post - a major American newspaper, and Blue Origin, an aerospace company developing rockets.
Amazon has been a significant player in the e-commerce industry since its inception. The company has continued to grow, branching out into new industries such as healthcare and entertainment. Some of the major retail and tech companies that are under the Amazon empire are Whole Foods, Zappos, Twitch, Ring, and Audible.
Amazon's stock has been on a steady upward trend since the company went public in 1997. In 2020, Amazon's stock price rose by over 70%, making it one of the best-performing stocks of the year.
Final Thoughts
These three individuals are among the wealthiest in the world, and their significant stock holdings in their respective companies are a major reason for their fortunes. While their portfolios may differ, all three have made shrewd investments and built successful companies that have contributed to their massive wealth.
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* The information for this article was gathered from a variety of sources, including financial news outlets such as CNBC, Forbes, and Bloomberg, as well as company financial reports and stock market data from sources such as Yahoo Finance and Google Finance. The net worth figures and stock ownership information for Bernard Arnault, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos were sourced from the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
