- Lesser-known billionaires like Indonesian investor Prajogo Pangestu saw their fortunes surge in 2023.
- Obscure big winners seized hot early opportunities in areas like crypto and AI.
- Tracking unexpected success stories reveals insights on extreme wealth creation.
While high-profile tech tycoons like Elon Musk added tens of billions to their wealth in 2023, some lesser-known magnates saw even more outsized gains. Tracking the 500 richest people globally, Bloomberg data reveals surprises in percentage returns beyond the usual suspects.
Some of the big winners of 2024
Indonesian investor Prajogo Pangestu, for instance, grew his net worth sevenfold to nearly $32 billion through surging coal and renewable energy shares.
Brian Armstrong of cryptocurrency firm Coinbase saw 400%+ appreciation, crossing $7.7 billion in total.
Other obscure big winners include Love’s Travel Stops co-founder Judy Love, now worth over $13 billion at age 86 from roadside retail success.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang added about $30 billion as AI applications boosted business.
And Binance founder Changpeng Zhao almost tripled his fortune before stepping down as CEO.
Strike while the iron is hot
These astronomical returns demonstrate striking mobility within billionaire ranks, with rapid wealth creation for those seizing hot market opportunities early.
Tracking unexpected winners reveals insight into what propels growth at the highest levels.
