ROAT stands for Richest Of All Time.

Just as sports fans debate the GOAT, ROATED tracks the individuals who have held the title of ROAT throughout history.

At any given moment, only one living person can sit atop the Wealth Throne. That person is the Current ROAT. But every ROAT eventually faces challengers. Every reign is temporary. Every throne changes hands.

Today, the title belongs to:

Elon Musk

Following the 2026 SpaceX IPO, Musk's estimated net worth surpassed $1 trillion, making him the first known individual to cross the trillion-dollar threshold and the current holder of the Wealth Throne.

ROATED Wealth Throne

2023–Present

Elon Musk

2022–2023

Bernard Arnault

2021–2022

Elon Musk

  • Reign Start: 2021

  • Reign End: 2022

  • Years on Throne: 1

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (2021): ~$180B–$200B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$320B–$340B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$320B–$340B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/

2017–2021

Jeff Bezos

2013–2017

Bill Gates

  • Reign Start: 2013

  • Reign End: 2017

  • Years on Throne: 4

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (2013): ~$70B–$75B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$86B–$90B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$110B–$120B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/

2010–2013

Carlos Slim Helú

  • Reign Start: 2010

  • Reign End: 2013

  • Years on Throne: 3

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (2010): ~$50B–$60B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$74B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$95B–$105B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/

2008–2010

Bill Gates

  • Reign Start: 2008

  • Reign End: 2010

  • Years on Throne: 2

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (2008): ~$55B–$60B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$60B–$65B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$80B–$90B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/

2008–2009

Warren Buffett

  • Reign Start: 2008

  • Reign End: 2009

  • Years on Throne: 1

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (2008): ~$60B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$62B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$85B–$95B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/

1995–2008

Bill Gates

  • Reign Start: 1995

  • Reign End: 2008

  • Years on Throne: 13

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (1995): ~$12B–$14B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$90B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$160B–$190B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/

1991–1995

Taikichiro Mori

  • Reign Start: 1991

  • Reign End: 1995

  • Years on Throne: 4

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (1991): ~$15B–$18B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$18B–$20B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$40B–$50B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/

1976–1991

Yoshiaki Tsutsumi

  • Reign Start: 1976

  • Reign End: 1991

  • Years on Throne: 15

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (1976): ~$8B–$12B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$20B–$25B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$50B–$70B

  • Sources: https://www.forbes.com/

1947–1976

J. Paul Getty

  • Reign Start: 1947

  • Reign End: 1976

  • Years on Throne: 29

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (1947): ~$2B–$3B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$6B–$9B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$70B–$100B

  • Sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-Paul-Getty

1937–1947

Henry Ford

  • Reign Start: 1937

  • Reign End: 1947

  • Years on Throne: 10

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (1937): ~$1.2B–$1.4B

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$1.6B

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$35B–$45B

  • Sources: https://corporate.ford.com/articles/history/henry-ford.html

1916–1937

John D. Rockefeller

1901–1916

Andrew Carnegie

1848–1877

Cornelius Vanderbilt

  • Reign Start: 1848

  • Reign End: 1877

  • Years on Throne: 29

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (1848): ~$50M–$60M

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$95M

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$100B–$200B

  • Sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cornelius-Vanderbilt

1836–1848

John Jacob Astor

  • Reign Start: 1836

  • Reign End: 1848

  • Years on Throne: 12

  • Wealth at Time of Taking the Throne (1836): ~$15M–$18M

  • Peak Net Worth During Reign: ~$20M

  • Inflation-Adjusted Peak (2026 USD): ~$25B–$60B

  • Sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Jacob-Astor

1831–1836

Nathan Mayer Rothschild

1800–1831

Stephen Girard