Bill Gates No Longer Among World’s Top 10 Richest: $52 Billion Wiped Out in a Week
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has experienced one of the steepest weekly drops in personal wealth in recent history, losing $52 billion in just 7 days, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Once a staple in the top 5 wealthiest individuals globally, Gates has now slipped to 12th position, with his net worth standing at $124 billion as of July 8.
How Much Did Gates Lose—and Why?
- Previous Net Worth (July 1): $172 billion
- Current Net Worth (July 8): $124 billion
- Total Weekly Loss: $52 billion
- Single-Day Loss (Most Recent): $351 million
Primary Reason: Massive Philanthropic Commitments
Gates’ plummet is not due to poor stock performance or failed investments—it’s because of his extraordinary charitable contributions.
In a blog post from May 2025, he revealed:
“I have $108 billion in personal wealth and have committed to give nearly all of it away within the next 20 years.”
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is expected to spend over $200 billion and wind down by 2045, dramatically accelerating its philanthropic mission. As Gates shifts wealth into charitable trusts and initiatives, those assets are no longer counted toward his net worth.
Who Overtook Gates?
The most surprising shift is the entry of Steve Ballmer, Gates’ longtime colleague and successor at Microsoft, who now holds the 5th spot with $172 billion in wealth. Ballmer’s fortune is closely tied to his Microsoft shares, which have surged due to the company’s strong performance and AI investments.
Top 10 Richest People (as of July 8, 2025)
| Rank | Name | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | $361 billion |
| 2 | Mark Zuckerberg | $254 billion |
| 3 | Larry Ellison | $253 billion |
| 4 | Jeff Bezos | $244 billion |
| 5 | Steve Ballmer | $172 billion |
| 6 | Larry Page | $163 billion |
| 7 | Bernard Arnault | $161 billion |
| 8 | Sergey Brin | $152 billion |
| 9 | Warren Buffett | $146 billion |
| 10 | Jensen Huang | $139 billion |
What This Means for Gates and Philanthropy
Despite the drop in net worth rankings, Gates remains one of the most influential and impactful billionaires globally. His decision to prioritise impact over personal fortune reinforces his long-standing belief that wealth should serve humanity.
This also signals a redefinition of legacy for billionaires—shifting focus from accumulation to purpose-driven giving.