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Economic Storms Batter the Super Rich: Enormous Losses in the Markets

Global stock markets are experiencing severe turmoil following the U.S. administration's imposition of new tariffs, leading to significant losses for major business leaders and investors. In the first two days of trading after the announcement of "Liberation Day," the richest 500 people in the world recorded a collective loss of $536 billion, marking the largest wealth decline over a short period, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Here are the most affected by these economic fluctuations, with only one billionaire showing success this year.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, the world's richest man and CEO of Tesla, suffered the largest loss by far. A staggering $31 billion was wiped off his net worth between the market opening on Thursday and its closing on Friday, as Tesla’s stock price declined. Despite the drop in Tesla shares, his company SpaceX remains among his most valuable assets. So far this year, Musk's fortune has decreased by $130 billion, but he still holds the title of the richest person in the world with a net worth of $302 billion.
Mark Zuckerberg
The founder of Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, recorded the second-largest loss, losing over $27 billion. With a net worth estimated at $179 billion, Meta's shares were severely affected by the downturn, plummeting nearly 14 percent over two days due to the impact of tariffs on tech companies. To date, Zuckerberg's personal fortune has declined by more than $28 billion this year.
Jeff Bezos
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos experienced the third-largest loss, amounting to $23.5 billion. The market value of Amazon, which specializes in selling imported goods, was significantly impacted, as Chinese sellers make up over 50 percent of the company's e-commerce platform. Although Amazon's stock rose slightly by 0.4 percent, Bezos has lost a total of $45 billion from his fortune, which is estimated at $193 billion.
Bernard Arnault
Owner of the luxury goods empire LVMH, Bernard Arnault, faced a loss of $6 billion on Thursday and $5 billion on Friday due to trade tensions and the effects of tariffs. His loss reflects a continuous decline in his wealth, which is currently estimated at $158 billion, representing a total decrease of $18.6 billion so far.
Warren Buffett: The Exception
In contrast to the other billionaires, Warren Buffett, the head of Berkshire Hathaway, saw an increase in his wealth to $155 billion this year. Despite losing $2.57 billion during the recent market crash, Buffett has added $12.7 billion to his net worth since the beginning of the year, demonstrating strong performance from his company amidst volatile market conditions.
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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