2020 was a year unlike any other, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. For the world’s collective billionaires, it was a time of unprecedented growth.
According to Forbes’ 35th annual billionaires list, released Tuesday, the number of billionaires worldwide “exploded” from 2,095 to 2,755 over the course of the year. Their collective wealth increased by $5.1 trillion.
The top of the list contains many familiar faces. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos was number one, with $177 billion (up from $113 billion in 2020). Tesla CEO Elon Musk was second with $151 billion, while Bill Gates ($124 billion) and Mark Zuckerberg ($97 billion) round out the top five.
Locally, there are 25 billionaires with ties to the Bay State. Wealthiest among them is Fidelity Investments CEO Abigail Johnson, with a net worth of $20.9 billion.
The owners of local sports teams are also well represented among the world’s most wealthy. New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft ranks 380th on the list with a net worth of $6.9 billion. Fenway Sports Group founder and Boston Globe Media Partners owner John Henry ranks 1,111th with $2.8 billion. Boston Bruins chairman Charlie Jacobs came in at 1,249th with $2.5 billion.
Click here for a full list of local billionaires from bostonglobe.com.
(PHOTO: Getty Images)