Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has overtaken Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the second richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Zuckerberg’s net worth soared to a record $206 billion on Friday, trailing only Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, whose wealth stands at $256 billion.
Bezos, now third on the list, saw his fortune drop by $2.6 billion in a single day, leaving him with a net worth of $205 billion.
Zuckerberg’s wealth surge is closely tied to Meta’s stock performance. Shares of Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, have climbed 23% since the company reported better-than-expected sales in the second quarter of 2024.
The stock closed at a historic high of $582.77 on Thursday, continuing an upward trend spurred by Meta’s investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality.
Meta has been pouring resources into building a strong foothold in the competitive AI sector, with Zuckerberg leading efforts to develop large language models that power AI chatbots.
In addition, the company has been advancing other ambitious projects like its newly introduced Orion augmented reality glasses, part of its broader vision for the future of immersive technologies.
The 40-year-old Zuckerberg, who holds a 13% stake in Meta, has added $78 billion to his fortune in 2024 alone, the largest increase among the world’s 500 richest individuals tracked by Bloomberg.
His rapid ascent on the wealth index has seen him leap four spots this year, further solidifying his position as one of the world’s top tech titans.
As Meta continues to invest heavily in data centers, computing power, and cutting-edge innovations, Zuckerberg’s wealth is likely to keep climbing, cementing his status as a key player in both the tech and financial worlds.
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