From left to right, top to bottom: Najib and Taha Mikati, Baha’ Hariri, Robert Mouawad, Ayman and Fahd Hariri. (Credit: Forbes/Collage L'Orient-Le Jour)
Forbes released its annual list of the world’s billionaires on April 1, revealing that they have never been as wealthy or influential as they are in 2025. For the first time since the ranking was established in 1987, the number of billionaires has surpassed 3,000, reaching 3,028 — an increase of 247 from 2024.
Entrepreneurs, investors and heirs dominate the list, which is led by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk’s fortune is estimated at $340 billion, making him the world’s wealthiest person.
Once again, the six Lebanese billionaires — brothers Najib and Taha Mikati, the Hariri brothers, Bahaa, Ayman and Fahd, and jeweler Robert Mouawad — feature in the ranking.
The collective net worth of the world’s billionaires now stands at $16.1 trillion, marking a $2 trillion increase from the previous year. This figure surpasses the gross domestic product of every country except the United States and China. Forbes calculates net worth based on the net fortunes of billionaires, meaning their stock values and exchange rates observed on March 7, 2025.
The United States continues to dominate, accounting for nearly a third of the world’s billionaires, with 902 billionaires on the list — far more than any other country. China remains in second place with 516 billionaires, while India, with 205, holds onto third.
Mikati, Hariri and Mouawad
Lebanon’s representation in the ranking remains unchanged from recent years, with the combined wealth of its billionaires reaching $12.3 billion.
At the top are former Prime Minister Najib Mikati and his brother Taha, who continue to share first place among Lebanese billionaires. The two leaders of M1 Group each have an estimated fortune of $3.1 billion, a 10.7 percent increase from last year’s $2.8 billion, placing them 1,172nd globally.
Baha’ Hariri, the older brother of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, ranks 1,763rd. Active primarily through his real estate company, Horizon Group, his fortune is estimated at $2 billion — down $100 million from last year, a decline of about 4.8 percent.
Saad Hariri, who was removed from the ranking in 2019 and resigned as prime minister in 2020 amid mass protests against the political class, remains absent. The last time his name appeared on the list was in 2018, when he ranked 1,561st with an estimated fortune of $1.5 billion.
Jeweler Robert Mouawad, CEO of Mouawad Group, ranks 2,233rd with a stable fortune of $1.5 billion. Founded in 1890 by David Mouawad, the family business remains based in Lebanon and operates in several Middle Eastern countries, as well as in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
Hariri’s brothers, Ayman and Fahd, rank 2,356th and 2,623rd, respectively, with fortunes of $1.4 billion and $1.2 billion — unchanged from last year.
Among members of the Lebanese diaspora, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helou and his family, who control América Móvil, Latin America’s largest mobile telecommunications operator, rank 19th worldwide with a fortune of $82.5 billion. However, their wealth has declined by $19.5 billion over the past year.
In France, the Saadeh family ranks 401st, with Jacques Jr., Rodolph (CEO of CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping company), and Tanya each holding $7.8 billion. Meanwhile, Vicky Safra, widow of Lebanese-Brazilian banker Joseph Safra, ranks 98th with a fortune of $20.7 billion, shared with her children.
Lebanese diaspora billionaires
The Lebanese diaspora is also represented among the world’s wealthiest outside Lebanon. Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helou and his family, who control América Móvil, Latin America’s largest mobile telecommunications operator, rank 19th with a fortune of $82.5 billion. Their wealth has declined by $19.5 billion over the past year.
In France, the Saadeh family ranks 401st, with Jacques Jr., Rodolphe — CEO of shipping giant CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container transport company — and Tanya each holding around $7.8 billion.
Meanwhile, Vicky Safra, widow of Lebanese-Brazilian banker Joseph Safra, ranks 98th with a fortune of $20.7 billion, which she shares with her children.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient Le-Jour.
