Billionaire
In short
A person whose total net worth is at least one billion units of a specific currency, usually US dollars. As of mid-2026, there are 20 individuals classified as centibillionaires with wealth exceeding $100 billion.
In plain words
This describes someone with an enormous amount of money. It is a way to group the world's wealthiest people together. They are part of a much larger group called ultra high-net-worth individuals.
A simple example
If a business owner owns shares and property worth $1,200,000,000, they are a billionaire. Even if most of that money is tied up in companies, it still counts towards their total wealth.
Why it matters
The number of billionaires can show how much wealth is concentrated in certain industries or countries. Their spending and investments can also influence global markets and politics.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse a billionaire with a trillionaire, who has at least one thousand billion units of currency.