Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (2024)

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Executive Lifestyle

Taylor Nicole Rogers

2020-07-21T18:26:00Z

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (1)

Bart Sadowsk/Shutterstock
  • Some industries produce a lot more ultrawealthy people than others.
  • While some have become billionaires working in the food and beverage sector, a lot more people become extremely rich in real estate.
  • Nearly one in five members of the three comma club work in banking or finance.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

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Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (4)

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People have been able to turn lots of different ideas into billion-dollar businesses, but it's easier in some fields than others.

As a part of its 2020 Billionaires Census report, research firm Wealth-X analyzed its database of thousands of people across the globe with net worths over $1 billion to see how they made their money.

Keep reading to learn which career fields are most common among the ultrawealthy, according to research firm Wealth-X.

Editor's note: The top 10 industries here account for 76.5% of all the billionaires in Wealth-X's database. The remaining 23.5% of billionaires made their fortunes in other industries not listed below.

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10. Textiles, Apparel, and luxury goods

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (5)

Reuters

Fashion is one of the rarest fields for billionaires, accounting for only 4.3% of their career paths, Wealth-X reports. Those who have succeeded in fashion have become extraordinarily wealthy, however. Two of the 15 richest people in the world — chairman of Louis Vuitton owner LVMH Bernard Arnault and Zara cofounder Amancio Ortega — made their fortunes in fashion, according to Forbes' real-time Billionaires List.

9. Hospitality and entertainment

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (6)

s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Only 4.5% of high net worth individuals got rich working in hospitality and entertainment, Wealth-Xreports. Former street performer Guy Laliberté built a $1.2 billion fortune after growing his Montreal-based circus troupe into the multibillion-dollar entertainment empire known as Cirque du Soleil, starting with only a $1 million arts grant, Business Insider previously reported.

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8. Non-profit and social organizations

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (7)

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Over 4.9% of wealthy people work for nonprofits full time, according to Wealth-X. However, many of them initially made their fortunes elsewhere, like Bill and Melinda Gates.

7. Technology

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (8)

Kim Kulish/Corbis via Getty Images

Tech billionaires such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Page might be some of the most famous members of the three comma club in the world, but relatively few wealthy people made their money from technology. Only 5.6% of people with net worths over $5 million made their fortunes in tech, according to Wealth-X.

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6. Manufacturing

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (9)

ABC Supply Co.

Just 5.6% of wealthy people made their fortunes in the manufacturing sector, according to Wealth-X.

That group includes Diane Hendricks, who made a $7.8 billion fortune running roofing, window, and siding producer ABC Supply, per Forbes.

5. Healthcare

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (10)

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Only 5.7% of wealthy people with fortunes over $5 million made their money in the healthcare industry, according to Wealth-X. The $18.1 billion net worth of Ernesto Bertarelli, the richest person in Switzerland, is from his stake in pharmaceutical company Serono, per Bloomberg.

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4. Food and beverages

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (11)

KIND Healthy Snacks

A mere 5.7% of wealthy people made their fortunes in food service, according to Wealth-X. Daniel Lubetzky created the first KIND bar after trying a snack bar made with whole fruits and nuts while on a business trip in Australia and has since built a $1.2 billion fortune selling the bars and other snacks, according to Forbes.

3. Real estate

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (12)

Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

According to Wealth-X, 7.6% of wealthy people made their money in real estate. With a net worth of $7.6 billion, Stephen Ross is the wealthiest real-estate developer in America, The Real Deal reported in 2019.

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2. Industrial conglomerates

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (13)

Steve Pope / Stringer / Getty Images

Industrial conglomerates have minted 12.8% of the world's billionaires, according to Wealth-X.

Warren Buffett made his $72.7 billion fortune investing in a wide variety of businesses, including insurer Geico and fast-food staple Dairy Queen, that he has assembled into conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway.

1. Banking and finance

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (14)

Gretchen Ertl/AP

More ultrawealthy people work in banking and finance than any other industry, according to Wealth-X. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is among the 19.8% of wealthy people worth over $5 million who made their money in the financial sector.

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Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people (2024)

FAQs

Want to become a billionaire? These are the industries that have minted the most ultrawealthy people? ›

Finance and investments remains the surest way to get ultra-rich. It's the industry with the highest number of billionaires, 372, including hedge fund and private equity tycoons, bankers, venture capitalists and fintech founders.

What industries mint the most billionaires? ›

427 billionaires amassed their fortunes in the finance sector, making it the industry that yields the most billionaires, followed by technology, manufacturing, retail, and food and beverage, according to Forbes.

Which industry is best to become a billionaire? ›

Here are The Best Business Industries To Make You a Billionaire.
  1. Technology. The technology industry has created some of the world's wealthiest individuals, including Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg. ...
  2. Finance and Investments. ...
  3. Real Estate. ...
  4. Energy. ...
  5. Retail. ...
  6. Education. ...
  7. Healthcare. ...
  8. Gaming.
Nov 14, 2023

What industry has the most self-made millionaires? ›

Financial Services

The financial service industry has created the most number of millionaires since modern times, according to the Wealth Report. In the business of money, people make a lot of money.

What major makes the most billionaires? ›

Engineering

This might surprise you, but the scope of engineering is huge and widening! KEY FACT: Engineering is the most common degree among billionaires. 22% of the world's top 100 billionaires studied engineering.

What makes a billionaire? ›

A billionaire has a net worth of at least one billion units in their native currency. Net worth is the value of a person's assets, minus the liabilities they owe. Billionaires can have a variety of assets, including cash and cash equivalents, real estate, and business and personal property.

What industry has the most money? ›

Biggest Industries by Revenue in the US in 2024
  1. Commercial Banking in the US. ...
  2. Hospitals in the US. ...
  3. Drug, Cosmetic & Toiletry Wholesaling in the US. ...
  4. Health & Medical Insurance in the US. ...
  5. Pharmaceuticals Wholesaling in the US. ...
  6. New Car Dealers in the US. ...
  7. Life Insurance & Annuities in the US. ...
  8. Public Schools in the US.

What are the top 3 millionaire jobs? ›

By those standards, the five jobs with the most millionaires are engineer, accountant, teacher, people in management, and lawyer.

What jobs can make you rich? ›

10 high-paying jobs
  • Pilot. ...
  • Actuary. ...
  • Computer network architect. ...
  • Air traffic controller. ...
  • Petroleum engineer. ...
  • Lawyer. ...
  • Physicist. ...
  • Computer and information systems manager.
Apr 18, 2024

What industry will produce the next billionaire? ›

Finance and investments remains the surest way to get ultra-rich. It's the industry with the highest number of billionaires, 372, including hedge fund and private equity tycoons, bankers, venture capitalists and fintech founders.

What is the best industry to become a millionaire? ›

Here is a list of careers that can help you become a millionaire:
  1. Trader. ...
  2. Investment banker. ...
  3. Actuary. ...
  4. Personal injury lawyer. ...
  5. Professional athlete. ...
  6. Real estate agent. ...
  7. Director of information security. ...
  8. Surgeon.
Apr 18, 2024

Which job has the most billionaires? ›

In broader terms, the finance and investment profession has the most millionaires. It also has the most billionaires, with 371. Here's a list of the seven best careers if you want to be a millionaire.

What is most millionaires source of income? ›

The 7 Streams Of Income
  • Dividend income from stocks.
  • Earned income from a paycheck.
  • Rental income from real estate.
  • Royalty income intellectual property, inventions, etc.
  • Capital gains from selling assets that have appreciated in value.
  • Profits from a business.
  • Interest from savings, bonds, or lending activities.
May 30, 2024

Which field is best for billionaire? ›

  • Finance. ...
  • No Degree. ...
  • Business. ...
  • Computer Science. ...
  • Arts. ...
  • Medicine. Skilled doctors and specialists can earn a lot of money. ...
  • Mathematics. Having a strong math background is helpful in many areas. ...
  • Other. There are lots of ways to become a billionaire, and not all of them involve going to college.
May 2, 2024

Who is most likely to become a trillionaire? ›

"Of the 21 individuals who stand a chance of reaching this phenomenal milestone in their lifetime, Elon Musk is predicted to be the first," said CEO Magazine. This prediction was reiterated by The Guardian, The Economic Times and many others.

What degree will make you rich? ›

Finance. As well as equipping graduates with the relevant skills and learning for a career in its field, a degree in finance is a strong indication of a pre-existing enthusiasm for money matters – which may translate into higher earnings. Take hedge fund manager John Paulson, for example.

Where do most billionaires invest their money? ›

Billionaires' wealth is concentrated in company stock, and their companies' value lies mostly in ideas and processes, not cash and physical property. The economy depends on some people having more than they need to consume, as their investments of capital fund business operations and private lending.

Which field has the most billionaires? ›

In broader terms, the finance and investment profession has the most millionaires. It also has the most billionaires, with 371. Here's a list of the seven best careers if you want to be a millionaire.

Which industry is the richest in the world? ›

Global Biggest Industries by Revenue in 2024
  1. Global Life & Health Insurance Carriers. ...
  2. Global Oil & Gas Exploration & Production. ...
  3. Global Commercial Real Estate. ...
  4. Global Pension Funds. ...
  5. Global Car & Automobile Sales. ...
  6. Global Direct General Insurance Carriers. ...
  7. Global Commercial Banks. ...
  8. Global Car & Automobile Manufacturing.

What company holds the most wealth? ›

Top 10 Companies by Market Cap in 2024
CompanySectorMarket Cap (in USD)
#1 MicrosoftTechnology$3.342 trillion
#2 AppleTechnology$3.160 trillion
#3 NvidiaTechnology$2.781 trillion
#4 Alphabet (Google)Technology$2.065 trillion
6 more rows
Jul 29, 2024

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