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Mark Zuckerberg Surpasses Larry Ellison to Become the Third Richest Person

Mark Zuckerberg has officially surpassed Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison to claim the title of the third richest person in the world, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaires list.

Key Insights

Zuckerberg’s fortune saw an impressive increase of over 4%, reaching $217.7 billion after Monday’s stock market close, while Ellison’s wealth dipped slightly by 0.3%, totaling $209 billion. This shift in rankings was closely tied to the performance of their respective companies’ stocks: Meta’s share price rose by approximately 4% to $630.20, while Oracle’s stock dropped by 0.3% to $165.78.

On Friday, January 3, Zuckerberg and Ellison briefly swapped positions, but by the end of the day, Ellison held the higher rank. Despite this, Zuckerberg’s rise marks a significant shift in the upper echelons of the billionaire rankings.

Elon Musk remains the wealthiest person globally with $425.2 billion, followed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos with $241 billion.

A Changing Fortune for Ellison

Just a couple of months ago, Larry Ellison’s wealth topped $228 billion, tying him with Bezos for second place. However, in early December, Oracle’s stock suffered a major setback after a financial report revealed disappointing results, causing Ellison’s fortune to dip by $15 billion. Ellison, who owns approximately 40% of Oracle, serves as the company’s chairman, chief technology officer, and co-founder.

In contrast, Zuckerberg, who owns about 13% of Meta, continues to serve as the company’s CEO and chairman.

Political Winds and Tech Fortunes

In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the November election, the fortunes of several tech leaders have surged. Ellison saw a $12 billion boost in the weeks following the election, while Bezos gained $7 billion. Musk saw the most substantial increase, with his wealth rising by nearly $21 billion in the immediate aftermath.

Meta’s Strategic Moves

On Monday, Meta made waves by announcing that UFC President Dana White will join its board of directors. Zuckerberg shared the news on Facebook, alongside the additions of Exor CEO John Elkann and former Microsoft executive Charlie Thornhurst. Zuckerberg expressed confidence in the company’s future, citing vast opportunities in artificial intelligence, wearables, and the evolution of social media. With these new board members, Meta aims to chart a bold course forward in these rapidly growing sectors.

Forbes Middle East Unveils 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen Of 2025

Forbes Middle East has unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 ranking of the region’s top businesswomen, spotlighting influential leaders reshaping industries and driving meaningful transformation. The list was based on business size, individual accomplishments, leadership impact, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Top Spot For Hana Al Rostamani

For the third consecutive year, Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE’s largest bank by assets), claims the top position. In addition to retaining her position in the Forbes Middle East ranking, she was also featured on Forbes’ 2024 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, securing the 60th position globally. Under her leadership, the bank achieved an impressive $3.5 billion in net profits and $334.8 billion in assets in the first nine months of 2024.

Rising Stars In The Top 10

Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar of NBK Group and Shaista Asif, cofounder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, take the second and third spots respectively, completing the top three.

The top 10 remains largely unchanged from last year, with Tayba Al Hashemi of ADNOC Offshore, Alisha Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare GCC, and Suzanne Al Anani of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) making their debut in the top 10. In total, 27 new leaders have joined the list this year.

A Diverse And Powerful Group Of Women

This year’s list features 100 women from 32 sectors and 29 nationalities, underlining the diversity of talent driving the region’s progress. The banking and financial services sector leads with 25 entries, followed by healthcare and technology with nine each, and venture capital with five. Remarkably, 40% of the top 10 women are from the banking and financial services sector. Notably, Shaista Asif (PureHealth Holding) and Alisha Moopen (Aster DM Healthcare GCC) are the only non-Arab women in the top 10.

UAE Leads With 46 Leaders

The UAE continues to dominate, with 46 of the women on the list hailing from the country, solidifying its status as a global business hub. Egypt follows with 18 influential women, and Saudi Arabia claims nine entries. Egyptians lead in representation, followed by Emiratis and Lebanese women.

Empowering Women Through Initiatives

Several of the leaders have focused on upskilling and creating opportunities for women. Susana Rodriguez Puerta launched the ‘sAIdaty’ initiative in collaboration with the Dubai Business Women Council, aimed at providing 500 female council members in the UAE with AI skills. Similarly, Lamia Tazi of SOTHEMA collaborated with the Foundation for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering to provide scholarships to PhD students from low-income backgrounds.

Click here for the full list.

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