There are few clubs in the world as exclusive as The Forbes 400, and in 2025, the cost of entry has climbed higher than ever.
To secure a place among the wealthiest individuals now requires a minimum net worth of $3.8 billion, an increase of $500 million from last year, reflecting buoyant equity markets and a surge in asset values.
Despite the steep threshold, more than 90% of last year’s billionaires successfully retained their positions.
Still, over 10 new names managed to muscle their way into the elite club, reflecting both entrepreneurial agility and the market’s shifting opportunities. Their fortunes span industries as varied as coffee retail, cancer diagnostics, and the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector.
For the sake of this article, we will look at only 10 of these individuals. Cumulatively, these newcomers are valued at $96 billion. About three of them command individual fortunes above $10 billion, a sign that new wealth creation is accelerating at the very top of the pyramid.
The data also highlights how innovation-led industries, particularly AI, are increasingly shaping global wealth dynamics. For perspective, the combined wealth of these new entrants alone surpasses the GDP of several African economies.
- Net worth: $5.9 billion
- Source of wealth: Software
Stephen Cohen, 42, is one of the quiet cofounders behind Palantir Technologies, the data analytics firm best known for its work with U.S. intelligence agencies and Fortune 500 clients. Cohen, who helped start the company in 2003 shortly after graduating from Stanford, now serves as president and secretary. His estimated 1.5% stake in Palantir, which went public in a direct listing in 2020, forms the basis of his billionaire fortune.
Over the years, Cohen has taken on a range of roles inside the company, including a stint as vice president, where he personally interviewed dozens of job candidates each week, helping shape Palantir’s early culture. A protégé of billionaire investor Peter Thiel, Cohen first worked at Thiel’s hedge fund while still in college. He once recalled going without sleep from Tuesday through Thursday during his final quarter at Stanford to juggle coursework and fund responsibilities.
While fellow cofounder Alex Karp is the public face of Palantir, Cohen has remained largely behind the scenes. He’s sold more than $500 million worth of stock (pretax) since November.
Technology and Trade. The two T’s that make billionaires.