Richest people in the world added $ 1.8 T to their combined wealth in 2020

The richest 500 people in the world added an estimated $ 1.8 trillion to their combined wealth in 2020, bringing them to a total net worth of $ 7.6 trillion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Bloomberg noted that the 31% increase, which occurred even amid the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, is the largest annual gain in the index’s eight-year history.

Growth has mostly reached those at the top, where five people now each hold more than $ 100 billion, with another 20 people each worth at least $ 50 billion.

Atop the Bloomberg Index is Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff BezosJeffrey (Jeff) Preston Bezos Amazon delivered over 1.5 billion items over the holiday season The Washington Post added more than 150 jobs next year, taking the newsroom to record size Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated over $ 1 billion in the past 4 months. with around $ 190 billion. The tech company has benefited greatly from the pandemic, when lockdowns and health restrictions forced more people to turn to online shopping.

Founder and CEO of Tesla Elon muskElon Reeve MuskTrump ends Obama’s 12-year run as most admired man: Gallup Apple CEO ignored meeting request to discuss Tesla sale, Musk says NASA selects next Artemis moon walkers as SpaceX flies a spaceship PLUS saw the biggest increase in wealth in 2020, which Bloomberg said was potentially the fastest growing wealth in history.

Worth $ 170 billion, Musk first overtook Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates for the title of second richest person in the world in November.

Musk’s increase in wealth was largely driven by Tesla, which on Saturday had a market value of nearly $ 670 billion. About three-quarters of Musk’s net worth is made up of Tesla stocks.

Bloomberg reported that, combined, Bezos and Musk saw an increase in their wealth of about $ 217 billion in 12 months, which is about enough to send $ 2,000 checks to over 100 million Americans. .

The rise of the Tesla founder was only the second time in the history of the index that Gates was not considered one of the two richest people in the world.

Gates now takes third place with a total net worth of around $ 132 billion, while Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, occupies fourth place with 114 billion dollars.

Founder and CEO of Facebook Mark ZuckerbergMark Elliot ZuckerbergSelena Gomez slams Facebook over COVID-19 disinformation: “ Facebook feud with Apple escalates in Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers call for action after ‘devastating’ cyberattack on federal government | US cyber agency issues emergency directive following hacks | FTC opens privacy study on major internet platforms LEARN MORE is the fifth richest person in the world with a net worth of around $ 104 billion.

According to Chuck Collins, director of the Inequalities and the Common Good program at the Institute for Policy Studies, the growth of the world’s top billionaires “touches a sore nerve for the millions of people who have lost loved ones and suffered a decline in their health. , wealth and livelihood. ”

“Worse yet, it undermines any sense that we are ‘together’ – the solidarity needed to get through the difficult months ahead,” Collins told Bloomberg.

As of Saturday, more than 84 million people around the world were infected with COVID-19, with more than 1.8 million deaths from the virus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.