How much money does it take to be one of the richest people on Earth? The answer is a net worth above £100 billion. To amass such staggering wealth, most of these individuals founded technology companies known the world over. Interestingly, this list of the world’s wealthiest as of January 2026, as reported by Forbes, is dominated by Americans. There are over 3,100 billionaires, according to the publication, and these are the richest of the rich and how they made their fortunes. 9. Warren Buffett Net worth: £109 billion ($149 billion, down $3 billion since last month) Source: Retired CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Age: 95 One of the most successful investors of all time, Buffett retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, to the son of a congressman, he bought his first stock aged 13. (Image: Getty) 7. Bernard Arnault Net worth: £142 billion ($195 billion, up $5 billion since last month) Source: LVMH CEO Age: 76 Arnault sits at the top of the luxury empire known …