This article takes a journey through the richest people from 1820 to the present, including a year-by-year breakdown from 2020 to 2025, and highlights notable figures who may have been overlooked. We’ll also share fun anecdotes and legacy facts about each person along the way.

1820s – Stephen Girard (Net Worth: $7.5 Million)

Adjusted for inflation: $105 Billion Stephen Girard, a French-born merchant who settled in Philadelphia, became the richest person in the world by 1810. His success in shipping, trading, and eventually banking allowed him to single-handedly finance the U.S. during the War of 1812. Fun Fact: Girard donated almost his entire fortune to charitable causes – including orphanages and schools – and funded the founding of Girard College in Philadelphia.

1830s – Nathan Mayer Rothschild

Following Girard’s death, Nathan Mayer Rothschild became the richest person in the world. A powerful banker based in London, he played a pivotal role in financing the British war effort against Napoleon. Fun Fact: Rothschild’s early intel on the Battle of Waterloo supposedly gave him an edge in the bond markets – a legendary financial power move. Overlooked Contender: Howqua (Wu Bingjian), a Chinese merchant, may have actually been richer than Rothschild during the 1830s, with a fortune from the tea and silk trade estimated at over $26 million – potentially making him the richest man globally at the time.

1840s – John Jacob Astor (Net Worth: $20 Million)

Adjusted for inflation: $290 Billion Astor dominated the fur trade and invested heavily in Manhattan real estate, becoming America’s first multimillionaire.

1850s – Cornelius Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt built a steamboat empire from scratch and became the wealthiest American of the 1850s. He later transitioned into railroads, setting the stage for even greater wealth.

1860s – Cornelius Vanderbilt

In the 1860s, Vanderbilt fully pivoted to railroads, acquiring key lines and founding what would become the New York Central. His wealth soared as trains replaced steamships.

1870s – Cornelius Vanderbilt (Net Worth: $105 Million)

In his final decade as #1, Vanderbilt turned to philanthropy and donated $1 million to found Vanderbilt University in 1873.

1880s – William Henry Vanderbilt (Net Worth: $232 Million)

Adjusted for inflation: $6.2 Billion William Henry inherited and expanded the Vanderbilt railroad empire. By the time of his death in 1885, he had more than doubled his father’s fortune. Fun Fact: His infamous quote: “The public be damned!” – a reply to a reporter questioning whether he would operate unprofitable trains for public benefit.

1890s – John D. Rockefeller

Co-founder of Standard Oil, Rockefeller controlled over 90% of U.S. oil refining by the 1890s, making him the richest person in the world. Fun Fact: He began giving away dimes to children – a quirky but symbolic start to his immense lifetime of philanthropy.

1900s – Andrew Carnegie (Net Worth: $480 Million)

Carnegie sold Carnegie Steel to JP Morgan in 1901 and became the world’s richest. He gave away 90% of his fortune to education, libraries, and peace efforts.

1910s – John D. Rockefeller (Net Worth: $900 Million)

Adjusted for inflation: $380 Billion Rockefeller regained the top spot. In 1916, he became the world’s first official billionaire. Fun Fact: His wealth after the Standard Oil breakup actually increased thanks to soaring shares in its spin-off companies. Overlooked Contender: Tsar Nicholas II of Russia may have controlled a personal and imperial fortune equivalent to over $300 billion in today’s money.

1920s – John D. Rockefeller

Rockefeller’s giving accelerated in the 1920s, with donations that eradicated yellow fever and hookworm in the U.S. He remained the richest man until his death in 1937.

1930s – John D. Rockefeller

The Great Depression didn’t dethrone Rockefeller. He continued to donate heavily and left a philanthropic legacy spanning medicine, education, and the arts. Overlooked Contender: Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, was considered the richest monarch of the era by Time magazine.

1940s – Henry Ford

Adjusted for inflation: $200 Billion The automobile pioneer revolutionized transportation and mass production. Ford was worth over $13 billion at his death in 1947. Fun Fact: Ford shocked the world in 1914 by paying workers $5 per day – more than double the prevailing wage.

1950s – J. Paul Getty

Getty struck oil in the Middle East and built Getty Oil into a global empire. He was famously frugal despite his wealth. Fun Fact: He installed a payphone in his mansion so guests wouldn’t run up his phone bill.

1960s – J. Paul Getty (Net Worth: $1.2 Billion)

Getty remained on top through the ’60s while amassing one of the world’s most impressive private art collections.

1970s – J. Paul Getty (Net Worth: $6 Billion)

Adjusted for inflation: $50 Billion Getty made headlines when he initially refused to pay the ransom for his kidnapped grandson. He died in 1976.

1980s – Yoshiaki Tsutsumi (Net Worth: $20 Billion)

Adjusted for inflation: $45.5 Billion A Japanese real estate mogul, Tsutsumi topped the global list during Japan’s 1980s economic bubble. He later lost most of his fortune after the bubble burst.

1990s – Bill Gates (Net Worth: $12.9 Billion in 1995)

Gates first became the richest person in 1995. His Microsoft stake made him the world’s wealthiest for over a decade. Fun Fact: Gates once memorized employees’ license plates to track who stayed late at the office.

2000s – Bill Gates

Despite the dot-com crash, Gates stayed #1 for most of the decade, only briefly overtaken by Warren Buffett in 2008. Gates shifted focus to philanthropy during this time.

2010s – Carlos Slim, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos

Three billionaires dominated the decade:

Year-by-Year Breakdown: 2020–2025

2020 – Jeff Bezos (Net Worth: $113 Billion)

2021 – Elon Musk (Net Worth: $300 Billion)

Musk’s wealth surged with Tesla stock and private SpaceX gains. He briefly became the richest person in history. Fun Fact: Musk responded to hitting $300B by tweeting: “How strange.”

2022 – Elon Musk (Net Worth: $219 Billion)

Despite stock selloffs and the controversial Twitter acquisition, Musk retained the top spot for most of the year.

2023 – Bernard Arnault (Net Worth: $211 Billion)

The LVMH chairman became the first European to top the global wealth list. Musk briefly reclaimed the title mid-year. Fun Fact: Arnault’s family runs many of LVMH’s brands, and his children hold key executive roles.

2024 – Elon Musk (Net Worth: $252 Billion)

Tesla rebounded and Musk’s AI company xAI raised billions. He once again took a commanding lead. Fun Fact: At one point, Musk was worth more than Bernard Arnault and Bill Gates combined.

2025 – Elon Musk (Net Worth: $499 Billion)

In late December 2024 and early January 2025, Elon Musk came within inches of having a net worth of $500 billion.