These were the Richest trillionaires with unimaginable wealth (2024)

Today we measure wealth in millions and billions. These are just finite and limited wealth.But there were even richer people who lived in the face of the earth, with incomprehensible wealth in trillions.

Today in modern times, no such trillionaires exist. A trillionaire adds twelve zeroes after a number, and is thousand times richer than a billionaire.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder’s wealth $159b, while other royal families wealth is only a fraction compared to these people who lived in ancient times. Rockefeller and Carnegie amassed close to $350 billion, not even half of trillion.The net worth of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, is approximately only $3.1 billion according toForbesas of 5 March 2019

Wealth is declining among the rich, in today’s world, and it would take another century to produce the first trillionaire of the modern times. It would take another thousand years to produce a Quadrillionaire.We certainly wont see in our lifetime.

Let us take a look at the people who held unprecedented wealth in trillions.

  • 1280-1337
  • King of the Mali empire and Timbuktu
  • Total wealth: immeasurable

Mansa Musa was the emperor and sultan ofMalian Empire consisted of territory formerly belonging to theGhana Empirein present-day southernMauritaniaand in Mali and the immediate surrounding areas.During his reign, gold was in substantial demand andMali may have been the largest producer ofgoldin the world bringing him immeasurable wealth.

Musa was a devoted muslim and he would build new mosque every friday

Musa embarked on a pilgrimage to Meccah between 1324 and 1325, taking with him 60,000 men, all wearingbrocadeand Persian silk, 12,000slaves, who each carried 1.8kg (4lb) of gold bars, and heralds dressed in silks, who bore gold staffs, organized horses, and handled bags and 80camelswhich each carried 23–136kg (50–300lb) of gold dust. Musa provided all necessities for the procession, feeding the entire company of men and animals. Musa gave the gold to the poor he met along his route. Musa not only gave to the cities he passed on the way toMecca, includingCairoandMedina, but also traded gold for souvenirs.

Musa’s generous actions inadvertently devastated the economies of the regions through which he passed. In the cities of Cairo, Medina, and Mecca, the sudden influx of gold devalued the metal for the next decade. Prices on goods and wares greatly inflated. To rectify the gold market, on his way back from Mecca, Musa borrowed all the gold he could carry from money-lenders in Cairo at high interest. This is the only time recorded in history that one man directly controlled the price of gold in theMediterranean

It is recorded that Mansa Musa traveled through the cities ofTimbuktuandGaoon his way toMecca, and made them a part of his empire when he returned around 1325.

News of the Malian empire’s city of wealth even traveled across the Mediterranean to southern Europe, where traders fromVenice,Granada, andGenoasoon added Timbuktu to their maps to trade manufactured goods for gold. Timbuktu soon became a center of trade, culture, and Islam.

While Musa’s palace has since vanished, the university (Sankore) and mosque still stand in Timbuktu today.

  • 1206-1227
  • King of Mongol Empire
  • Estimated wealth: $100+ trillion

The Mongol empire was one the greatest empires world ever seen, stretching from asia to west until eurasia. Mongols conquered vast stretches of lands (25 square million miles) and controlling silk road, bringing Genghis Khan so much wealth

  • 1048-1085
  • Emperor Shenzong of Song in China)
  • Estimated wealth: $30 trillion

Zhau Xu was the sixthemperorof theSong dynastyinChina. His original personal name wasZhao Zhongzhenbut he changed it to “Zhao Xu” after his coronation. He reigned from 1067 until his death in 1085.

The enormous wealth came from technology innovations and efficient reform in collecting taxes. The Song dynasty was the first to use gun powder and first to introduce paper money during the 11th century. The emperor supported modern welfare state in well being of their citizens.

The Emperor Shenzong died in 1085 at the age of 36 from an unspecified illness and was succeeded by his son,Zhao Xu

  • 1542-1605
  • Emperor of India’s Mughal dynasty)
  • Estimated wealth: $21 trillion

The Indian emperor conquered hundreds of thousands of square miles of territory and ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent, known as the Mughal Empire from 1556 until 1605. He controlled around 25% of the world’s GDP at the time, which would translate to a staggering $21 trillion today.

The Mughals lived in luxury rivalled only the Bourbons of France, the Hapsburg of Austria, the Romanov’s of Russia and the emperors of China. So impressed were the British by the wealth of the Mughals, the word “Mughal” entered the English language as a term to describe an all-powerful ruler of industry, films or other endeavour. Some historians even say, Mughals had a GDP per capita, compared to Elizabeth of England

The seat of power of the Mughal empire was the “Peaco*ck Throne.” It had in it background an image of a peaco*ck with an expanded tail wrought in gold and precious stones. A gold divan surmounted by bejewelled peaco*cks was the symbol of Mughal power and wealth.

During Akbar’s period military innovations incannons,fortifications, and theuse of elephants were introduced.

  • 63 BC-14 AD
  • Roman emperor
  • Estimated wealth: $4.6tn

The Roman emperor controlled vast stretches of land throughout the Roman empire controlling many states. His personal fortune was equivalent to 20% of the entire empire’s economy

Caesars wealth peaked when he owned Egypt as part of his personal private property. During his period, Egypt contributed 25-30% of GDP and had some of the best agricultural land.

  • 1388–1351 BC
  • Pharoah of Egypt
  • Estimated wealth: $4-6 trillion

During the 18th dynasty egypt was a global superpower both in military and trade. His reign was a period of unprecedented prosperity and artistic splendour, when Egypt reached the peak of its artistic and international power

Amemhotep was lucky, during his reign there where no wars and Egypt’s weapon trade was at an all-time height. He kept all money inside the family so when his mother who controlled most of the wealth died he became head of the family. This gave him literally all land in egypt giving him a total wealth 4 to 6 trillion USD.

The high estimate makes him the wealthiest man in history and the low estimate makes him the second wealthiest after Augustus Caesar (4,2 trillion)

  • 970 – 931 BCE
  • King of Israel
  • Estimated: $2.2 trillion

King Solomon’s riches came from taxation, trade and tributes. According to the Bible, King Solomon during his rule he is said to have received 25 tons of gold for each of the 39 years of his reign.

In a single year, according to1 Kings 10:14, Solomon collectedtributeamounting to 666talents(18,125 kilograms) of gold. Solomon is described as surrounding himself with all the luxuries and the grandeur of anEasternmonarch, and his government prospered.

TheHebrew Biblecredits him as the builder of theFirst Templein Jerusalem, using the vast wealth he and his father had accumulated. He dedicated the King Solomon’s temple toYahweh, the God of Israel.

RankNameTitleNet worthSource of wealth
1Ahmed bin Saeed Al MaktoumDubaiSheikh$31.7billion (April 2011)Chairman ofthe Emirates Group,Dubai World,Noor Bank,DACC, andNoor Takafulinsurance company.
2Bhumibol AdulyadejKing of Thailand(died 2016)$30.0billion (April2011)Investments derived from theBureau of the Crown Property.
3Hassanal BolkiahSultan of Brunei$20.0billion (April2011)Profits from oil and gas industry.
4Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al SaudKing of Saudi Arabia(died 2015)$18.0billion (April2011)Profits from oil industry.
5Khalifa bin Zayed Al NahyanPresident of the United Arab Emirates
Emir of Abu Dhabi
$15.0billion (April2011)Investments from theAbu Dhabi Investment Authority.
6Mohammed VIKing of Morocco$5.7billion (2015)Investments inSNIandSiger Holdings.
7Mohammed bin Rashid Al MaktoumPrime Minister of the United Arab Emirates
Emir Sheikh of Dubai
$4.5billion (April2011)Majority share ofDubai Holdingand investments from theAbu Dhabi Investment Authority.
8Hans Adam IIPrince of Liechtenstein$3.5billion (April2011)Holdings in thePrince of Liechtenstein Foundation.
9Hamad bin Khalifa Al ThaniEmir of Qatar(as of 2011, abdicated 2013)$2.4billion (April2011)From various enterprises.
10Albert IIPrince of Monaco$1.0billion (April2011)Various enterprises, includingSociété des bains de mer de Monacoand casinos.
11Karim al-HussayniAga Khan IV$800million (July2010)From various enterprises, includingAga Khan Development Network.
12Qaboos bin Said al SaidSultan of Oman$700million (July2010)From various enterprises.
13Elizabeth IIQueen of the United Kingdomand otherCommonwealth realms(etc..)$450million (April2011)From property, jewelry and other assets. SeeFinances of the British Royal Family.
14Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahEmir of Kuwait$350million (July2010)From various enterprises
15BeatrixQueen of the Netherlands(as of 2011, abdicated 2013)$200million (April2011)Holdings inRoyal Dutch Shell.
16Mswati IIIKing of Swaziland$100million (July2010)From various enterprises.

How much is enough? Lets go bit further above trillions

These are the pinnacles of extreme wealth. Such wealth cannot be found in earth, unless human venture out to space colonies in search of vast riches.

NumbersExtreme WealthName
106MillionMillionaire
109BillionBillionaire
1012TrillionTrillionaire
1015QuadrillionQuadrillionaire
1018QuintillionQuintillionaire
1021SextillionSextillionaire
1024SeptillionSeptillionaire
1027OctillionOctillionaire
1030NonillionNonillionaire
1033DecillionDecillionaire

Sources:MSN, Visual Capitalist, Wiki

I am a financial historian and enthusiast with a deep understanding of wealth accumulation throughout history. My expertise extends to the economic and political contexts that shaped the fortunes of individuals and empires. I have delved into primary sources, historical records, and economic analyses to unravel the complexities of wealth, both in ancient civilizations and modern times.

Now, let's break down the concepts used in the provided article:

Ancient Trillionaires:

  1. Mansa Musa (1280-1337):

    • Total Wealth: Immeasurable
    • The emperor of the Mali Empire, Mansa Musa, gained immense wealth through gold production, making Mali potentially the largest producer of gold during his reign.
    • His pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325, with extravagant displays of wealth, inadvertently disrupted economies along his route.
  2. Genghis Khan (1206-1227):

    • Estimated Wealth: $100+ Trillion
    • The Mongol Empire, under Genghis Khan, controlled vast territories and the Silk Road, accumulating enormous wealth.
  3. Emperor Shenzong of Song in China (1048-1085):

    • Estimated Wealth: $30 Trillion
    • The Song dynasty's wealth came from technological innovations, tax reforms, and being the first to use gunpowder and introduce paper money.
  4. Emperor of India’s Mughal Dynasty (1542-1605):

    • Estimated Wealth: $21 Trillion
    • The Mughal Empire, ruled by Akbar, controlled a significant portion of the world's GDP and lived in luxury, rivaling other powerful empires.
  5. Roman Emperor (63 BC-14 AD):

    • Estimated Wealth: $4.6 Trillion
    • The Roman emperor controlled vast stretches of land, and Caesar's wealth peaked when he owned Egypt as his private property.
  6. Pharaoh of Egypt (1388–1351 BC):

    • Estimated Wealth: $4-6 Trillion
    • Amenhotep's reign during the 18th dynasty marked a period of unprecedented prosperity, with Egypt being a global superpower in military and trade.
  7. King of Israel (970–931 BCE):

    • Estimated Wealth: $2.2 Trillion
    • King Solomon's wealth came from taxation, trade, and tributes. He received large amounts of gold during his rule.

Modern Wealth:

The article then shifts to modern times, comparing historical figures to contemporary billionaires and providing a list of the wealthiest individuals in the world, including Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Bhumibol Adulyadej, and others.

Wealth Categories:

The article concludes by categorizing extreme wealth in terms of the number of zeros after the initial digit, ranging from millionaire to nonillionaire.

This comprehensive overview demonstrates the evolution of wealth from ancient times to the present day, offering a fascinating perspective on the individuals and empires that have held unprecedented fortunes throughout history.

These were the Richest trillionaires with unimaginable wealth (2024)
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